Revitalizing Condom-Centered HIV Prevention Strategies

HIV infection rates remain steady in the USA despite the numerous prevention programs and tools available. Condoms play a central role in HIV prevention because they are highly effective, readily available, and affordable. Unfortunately, condom promotion efforts often incite fear as a motive force, while also taking the common "one-size-fits-all" approach. Reframing condom promotion through a sexual health framework, focusing on pleasure and highlighting condom fit issues, improves intervention efficacy. Condom distribution policies may further perpetuate condom users' difficulty, by withholding particular condom styles, brands, and information highlighting the nuances in shape, size, and material. Condom education and distribution practices focused on pleasure, proper fit, and condom access issues might increase condom utilization among high-risk populations.