Title: Brazil's condom confusion.

POPLINE Document Number: 270904

Author(s):

Isaacs S

Source citation:

NEW YORK TIMES, 1988 Oct 8;:27.

Abstract:

This editorial explains the political and economic factors that have led to the shortage of condoms in Brazil, where relaxed social mores and pleasure-driven tourism have combined to make this developing country a breeding ground for the AIDS virus, with 4,000 cases of AIDS reported since 1982. While the Brazilian government has sponsored a public relations campaign urging people to wear condoms, Brazilian manufacturers manage to supply less than 100 million condoms annually, 1/40 the number needed if all Brazilian males ages 15-50 would use condoms. Brazilian manufacturers do not meet this demand because they do not want to be publicly identified with the AIDS virus and its stereotypical carriers, and because they cannot afford to increase their manufacturing capacity at a time of 600% annual inflation and slow economic growth. Also, although Brazilian rubber is high in minerals and thus prone to holes, making the condoms nationally produced unreliable for protection against AIDS, Brazil prohibits importation of better latex due to its US$113 billion in foreign debt. The same prohibition against competing imports precludes Brazilians from purchasing foreign-made condoms. And donations of condoms, proffered already by such sources as the U.S. Agency for International Development, have fallen through because the US cannot provide aid to nuclear powers, such as Brazil, that have not signed the nuclear non-proliferation treaty. Meanwhile, foreign investors who might invest in Brazilian condom production have been put off by the same 600% inflation, high national debt, and slow economic growth that stymies Brazilian condom manufacturers. The complications and resulting condom shortages that beset Brazil are common to many developing countries. Given that the World Health Organization predicts up to 3 million cases of AIDS worldwide in the next 5 years, it behooves politicians and health leaders to act vigorously and immediately to overcome these obstacles to distribution of the only known AIDS preventative.

Keywords:

Brazil
South America
Latin America
Americas
Industry
Condom
Barrier Methods
Contraception
AIDS Prevention
Obstacles
Contraceptive Importation
Economic Conditions
Macroeconomic Factors
Critique
Developing Countries
South America, Eastern
Developed Countries
Economic Factors
Contraceptive Methods
Family Planning
AIDS
HIV Infections
Viral Diseases
Diseases
Organization and Administration
Family Planning Program Administration
Family Planning Programs