Table 4

Provision of free condoms
Item
 N
 %
Agencies that offer them (n = 40)
 27
 67.5
Agencies that have considered it (n = 40)
 4
 10.0



Considered, but not implemented because (n = 5 respondents)

     resistance from the staff
 1
 20.0
     resistance from the Board
 1
 20.0
     felt it was inappropriate for clientele
 1
 20.0
     it contravenes agency policy/philosophy
 1
 20.0
     Don't know
 1
 20.0
     Other
 2
 40.0



Agencies that do provide free condoms (n = 21 respondents)

Intra-agency obstacles

     None
 5
 23.8
     staff resistance
 3
 14.3
     resistance from the Board
 2
 9.5
     concerns about negative community reactions
 2
 9.5
     Lack of funding
 3
 14.3
     Other
 10
 47.6



Extra-agency obstacles

     None
 5
 23.8
     community resistance
 14
 66.7
     Don't know
 1
 4.8
     Other
 3
 14.3



Expected benefits

     reduction in STDs/AIDS
 17
 81.0
     reduction in unwanted pregnancy
 10
 47.6
     opportunity to provide information/education
 6
 28.6
     Other
 3
 14.3



For agencies that offer free condoms (n = 46)

Reasons for offering them

     to reduce HIV/STDs
 27
 58.7
     to reduce unwanted pregnancy
 9
 19.6
     to provide information/education
 7
 15.2
     funding was made available
 2
 4.3
     urged to do so by the Ministry of Health/other agencies
 3
 6.5
     Don't know
 7
 15.2
     Other
 20
 43.5



Resistance encountered

     None
 34
 73.9
     From the staff
 3
 6.5
     From the community
 5
 10.9
     From other agencies
 1
 2.2
     Don't know
 2
 4.5
     Other
 2
 4.5



How was it dealt with? (n = 11)

     ignored it
 1
 9.1
     gave people time to accept it
 2
 18.2
     through education/information
 4
 36.4
     Other
 2
 18.2

Hobden and Cunningham Harm Reduction Journal 2006 3:35   doi:10.1186/1477-7517-3-35

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