Living in Peru : your everyday companion

Living in Peru
Israel J. Ruiz

The United Nations Population Fund - UNFPA is interested in financing a project to research how well Peruvian women would accept the use of female condoms, reported the state news agency Andina.

According to Lucy del Carpio, the Health Ministry coordinator for the National Strategy on Sexual Health and Reproduction, the UNFPA has already funded projects and programs to foster the use of female condoms in countries such as Brazil and Zimbabwe.

"The idea is to empower women on this crucial subject and prevent HIV and AIDS, the transmission of sexual diseases and family planning, affirmed Lucy del Carpio.

She explained that female condoms were just as safe as male condoms and had proven to be an effective product over the years they had been on the market.

Del Carpio affirmed this study should be carried out in Peru to know if female condoms will be rejected by Peruvian women the way diaphragms and pills have been.

"In some sectors and regions of the country women are too modest and don't like to touch their vagina," said Del Carpio.

"That's why this study will let us know if this mentality has changed or in what areas we can begin to inform women on this method."