In addition to preventing pregnancy, female and male condoms, if used correctly and consistently, can reduce the sexual transmission of HIV by 80 to 90 percent. Yet many parts of the world still face barriers to condom access.

The Communication & Advocacy section of the Condom Use Toolkit contains materials that detail the communication strategies and advocacy activities needed to address these gaps. Among these strategies are:

•  Information, Education, and Communication (IEC), a process of working with individuals, communities, and societies to develop context-appropriate communication strategies to promote healthful behaviors such as condom use through mass media; interpersonal communication; and community-based channels
• Behavior change communication, which involves IEC in addition to the provision of a supportive environment that will enable people to initiate and sustain safer behaviors such as correct and consistent condom use
• Social marketing, a strategy in which programs develop condom brands , and market and sell the brands to a particular population through promotional campaigns
• Advocacy, action that aims to influence reproductive health or HIV-related attitudes, laws, policies, or practices, usually directed at decision makers. 

Do you have a comment or a resource you’d like to suggest for inclusion in the Toolkit? Share your thoughts by sending a message through the feedback form.