What people say about condoms to prevent AIDS

What people say about condoms to prevent AIDS

JAKARTA (JP): Condom or no condom?

The promotion on the use of condoms to control the spread of HIV, the virus responsible for fully-developed AIDS, has stirred controversy.

Those in favor say condoms are highly effective in preventing HIV infection. But some people disagree. They even object to safe-sex campaigns because they are afraid such activities will promote promiscuity.

The government focuses on religious and family values in the efforts to curb the sexual transmission of AIDS. State Minister of Population/Chairman of the National Family Planning Board Haryono Suyono says condoms are the last choice which should be used in emergency only.

The Indonesian Council of Ulemas does not support the campaigns on the use of condoms, either. Chairman of the council, Ali Yafie, believes that the most effective way to fight AIDS is by "encouraging people to go back to religious behavior."

How do people react to the controversy? Below is what people from different professions say about condoms.

Firman Lubis, executive director of Yayasan (Foundation) Kusuma Buana Foundation: I am sad there are polemics regarding efforts to fight the HIV/AIDS. We should not quarrel about the use of condoms to prevent the disease. We should use every method open to us, promoting religion, family values and also the use of condoms.

I fully agree with the promotion of religion and family values. We support abstinence and we encourage people to be faithful. Yayasan Kusuma Buana does not approve of free sex, premarital sex or extramarital sex, but we can't be hypocrites. There are people who practice premarital and extramarital sex. Scolding those people will not solve a thing. We have to stop them spreading HIV and protect them from infection.

Research shows that condoms are very effective in prevention of HIV/AIDS. One study found no holes in condoms at magnification of 30,000.

HIV will spread more rapidly if people do not get the right information about the disease and how to avoid it. There is a need to be open about HIV/AIDS.

I don't agree with the suggestion that people who want to buy condoms should show a doctor's prescription or a marriage certificate. It will be difficult to enforce such a regulation.

Nona Warokka, 26, secretary of Bouraq Airlines: We have to fight AIDS, but I don't agree with the campaign on the use of condoms. I think the campaigns will encourage promiscuity. What's more, condoms are not 100 percent effective in preventing the spread of HIV. It would be better to tell people not to have sex with anyone other than their spouses.

I think we have to use a moral approach and promote religious and family values to prevent the spread of HIV.

Roekmini Koesoemo Astoeti, 57, a member of the National Commission of Human Rights: Will safe-sex campaigns encourage promiscuity? I think it depends on the mentality of the people. But, we have to admit that such campaigns might have a negative impact. People might be encouraged to become unfaithful if they believe it is really safe to do so.

I don't have any objection to safe-sex campaigns providing that they are given to selective audiences in certain places, such as in red-light districts.

Sex education for high school students is okay, but not the promotion of condoms. That is different.

I am not sure restrictions on the purchase of condoms will eliminate free sex. You can make regulations requiring people to show their marriage certificates to buy condoms, but you can't control their use. Who can guarantee that they won't give the condoms to others, and who can guarantee they'll use it with their spouses?

If we want to fight promiscuity, we have to use religion, education and a moral approach.

Dwiyanto Prihartono, 30, a lawyer of the Jakarta chapter of the Legal Aid Institute: I can't tolerate the sale of condoms in red-light districts. I think condoms should be available in certain places only, like hospitals, health centers and pharmacies, because condoms have much to do with health. I am not against the use of condoms. I understand that it can prevent diseases. But, the promotion on the use of condoms can also encourage people to have sex outside marriage. Therefore, campaigns on the use of condoms should be conducted very carefully.

Ong, 27, manager of a private bank: The thing is not whether you use condoms. It is about free sex. What is important is how to stay away from premarital and extramarital sex. I worry that promotion of condoms will encourage people to practice free sex. The fear of AIDS will discourage people from being unfaithful. But, the safe-sex campaigns can make people feel "safe" in practicing adultery.

So, instead of telling people to use condoms, AIDS activists should tell them not to have premarital and extramarital sex. Instead of promoting the use of condoms in red-light districts, why don't they try to eliminate prostitution?

I would support the government tightening the procedures for the sale of condoms. People do not need to show their marriage certificates if they want to buy condoms. ID cards will do.

I am not sure that condoms are really effective in preventing HIV. The activists say the use of condoms will reduce risks. Why don't we avoid the risk by staying away from "improper" sex contacts?

Connie Rahardja, 29, sales manager of Interforum Tours and Travel: I am for the promotion on the use of condoms because this can curb the spread of the HIV. People need to know about the transmission of the virus and how to avoid it.

Safe-sex campaigns are important considering the fact that there are a lot of people who have sex outside marriage. You might not like it or disapprove of it, but that happens and you have to face reality.

A restriction in the sale of condoms will not solve the problem. This will not change people's sexual behavior.

There are other things the government can do other than tightening the procedures for the sale of condoms, for example by providing sex education for high school students. They need the right information so that they can decide what they may do and what they should not do.