“sex with condom is enjoyable than no sex”

The DREAMS program is part of the Afya Kwanza project implemented in Muleba DC of Kagera region.  DREAMS services aim at prevention from acquiring new HIV/AIDS amongst AGYW. Condom use is a critical in a comprehensive, effective and sustainable approach to HIV prevention and treatment. As condom is the preventive mainstay of the response to AIDS. Condoms promotion and use is an integral and part of comprehensive prevention.

Peragia is an AGYW aged 18 years. She has encountered some benefits from the DREAMS program. Among the topics she understood well during group mentorship by COVs during weekly sessions and tried to practice, condom use is one of them. Previous knowledge gained condoms as she narrates is when she was in primary school bur said she didn’t concentrate and did not use them because of fear to be seen as a prostitute. But it was clearer at DREAMS group sessions because of the friendliness in discussions with other peer group members.  We were able to touch condoms, look at them closely with no fear and because she has tested HIV negative recently she feels that it is more important to use condoms to be able to continue to stay negative. She has no plans to have children now despite having a boyfriend and knows condom use will help.  From knowledge gained she understands that the condom has dual benefits and that make her taking serious action towards her dreams.

She says, it wasn’t easy to explain to her boyfriend about condoms because he would think that she doesn’t trust him.  After understanding sessions their discussions cantered on dual protection which is pregnancy and HIV and STI prevention

As she said “Talking about condoms may seem a little uncomfortable at first, especially if you don’t know how your partner will react. And fearing of breakup.”

What makes it easy to use condom consistently is regularly chatting with her boyfriend about condom use, her confidence, accessibility of condom and emphasis that she is a responsible person who cares about her and his partner health. She adopts the common slogan used for condom use.

The slogan she said is “sex with condom is enjoyable than no sex”