Use of condoms drops to 0.9%

JAKARTA: A recent survey revealed that only 0.9 percent of males who are involved in family planning programs use condoms consistently.

The survey, conducted between 2002 and 2003, found that 60 percent of around 40 million married couples in 26 provinces use any form of contraception.

The highest rate of condom use was recorded between 1979 and 1980, when 6.3 percent of male family planning program participants claimed to be using condoms consistently.

"Since 2000, the National Family Planning Board has been campaigning to educate the public on the dual function of condoms as a contraceptive device and protection against sexually transmitted diseases," Gelora Manurung of the board said. -- JP