A condom is a type of birth control in the form of barrier that prevents sperms from reaching and fertilizing an egg.

According to the Oxford English dictionary (2006:298), de fines a condom as a thin rubber sheath worn on the pennies during sexual intercourse as a contraceptive or to protect against infection. There are both male and female condoms. The male condom is thin form-fitting sheath worn on an erect penis during sexual intercourse. The female consists of a polythene pouch with a ring on each end. The smaller, closed ring is placed inside the vagina and the larger open ring remains outside the body at the opening of the vagina. According to the USAID report (2007),it has taken the lead in the HIV prevention and is fully committed of strategies targeting the sexual prevention of HIV transmission, some of which include abstinence, being faithful/ partner reduction, incorrect and consistent condom use(ABC approach).Condom use can significantly reduce the risk of HIV infection and in conjunction with other behavioural changes such as delayed sexual initiations and partner reduction , is a key component of effective HIV prevention programs. HIV prevention efforts are complicated by the fact that the global pandemic is rooted in different causes in different settings. To prevent the sexual transmission of HIV most governments through the US president Emergency Plan for aids relief (PEPFAR), support the ABC approach because it can be used to target the source of most of the new infections in given population while still being tailored to meet specific needs of the most-at-risk and value able individual. The use of condoms has been an important and successful intervention in many places for sexually active people, particularly when target at commercial and other casual sexual encounters. While no barrier method is 100 percent effective, correct and consistent use of latex condoms can reduce the risk of transmission of HIV/AIDS, some other STIs and unintended pregnancy. Laboratory research has demonstrated that latex condoms provide an essentially impermeable barrier to particles comparable in size to or smaller than STIs, including HIV, studies have shown than correct and consistent use is essential to realize the full benefit provide by condom in reduction the of HIV infection. The body of research demonstrating the effectiveness of latex condoms in reducing sexual transmission of HIV is both comprehensive and conclusive.

Scientific studies of sexually active discordant couples, where one partner is infected with HIV and the other partner is not, have demonstrated that the correct and consistent use of latex condoms reduce the likelihood of HIV infections by 80 to 90 percent. However, failure to use condoms correctly with every act of intercourse or, to some extent, slippage or breakage of the condom, has been shown to increase the risk of HIV/AIDS transmission. In fact, some studies have shown that inconsistent condom users may face the same risks of HIV infection as non-users. Condoms serve as barrier that can protect both genders from exposure to genital secretion that transmits HIV and STIs. Gonorrhoea, Chlamydia and trichonmiasis, like HIV, are transmitted by genital secretions. Scientific studies do provide evidence that latex condoms, when used consistently and correctly, can reduce the risk of gonorrhoea and Chlamydia infections in both women and men. Genital ulcers disease (such as genital herpes, syphilis and cancroids) and human papillomavirus (HPV), which is the main cause of cervical cancer, are transmitted primarily through contact with sores/ulcers or with infected skin in areas that may or may not be covered by a condom. Recent studies have shown that the correct and consistent condom use reduce the risk of herpes and HPV. Marcella alsan.Catholic church condom prohibition comes face to face with reality of AIDS in Africa.Catholic.com.24th April 2006.Benedict XVI made his first comment as pope regarding condom use at a June 2005 papal audience. He emphasised that contraception leads to a breakdown in sexual morality. In the speech, the pope made a diagnosis: condom increases sexual immorality and sexual immorality increases the spread of AIDS. The logical treatment for sexual immorality is Christian marriage, fidelity and chastity. Condom warning label suggest by Mexico City Archbishop Norberto Rivera Carrere [La Jornada (Mexico). 29th Aug. 1997] - Use of this product is harmful to health. There is no absolute guarantee even when you use a condom that you will not get the HIV virus. But most experts believe that the risk of getting HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases can be greatly reduced if a condom is used properly. In other words, sex with a condom is not totally safer sex but it is less risky sex. Condoms play a key role in preventing HIV infection around the world. In sub-Sahara Africa, most countries have an increase in condom us in recent years. In studies carried out in 2001
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and 2005, eight out of eleven countries in sub-Sahara Africa reported an increase in condom use. The distribution of condoms to countries in Africa has also increased: in 2004 the number of condoms provided to this region by donors was the equivalent of 10 for every man, compared to 4.6 for every man in 2001. Relative to the enormity of HIV/AIDS epidemic in Africa, condoms is cheap and cost effective. Even when available, though, there are still a number of social, cultural and practical factors that may prevent people from using them.

BIBLIOGRAPHY Carrere P. (1997), La Jornada, Mexico: Samaria Inc.

Catholic.com.24th April 2006.Benedict XVI

Microsoft cooperation (1993-2008)

Oxford English dictionary (2006:298).

USAID report (2007),

NJCLD. (1994). Collective Perspectives on Issues Affecting Learning Disabilities, Austin, TX: Pro-Ed.