PSP Central America: Condom Availability
In February 2006, Abt Associates was awarded a Task Order under the Private Sector Program (PSP) Indefinite Quality Contract (IQC) to carry out a program for making condoms available to persons most at risk of transmitting or becoming infected with HIV/AIDS or a sexually transmitted infection in outlets where high-risk behaviors take place in Central America, such as motels/hotels and establishments where prostitution occurs. This initiative complements other USAID-supported activities to provide prevention services to high-prevalence and vulnerable populations.
The program aims to increase condom availability through identifying and prioritizing underserved areas and distributing and promoting several product options regardless of brand by using market segmentation strategies. The program is being implemented in Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, and Belize. High-risk outlets are defined as motels, hotels, pensions, brothels, and establishments where prostitution occurs and target groups are consistent with USAID priority groups for HIV/AIDS prevention in the region: female sex workers and men who have sex with men.
The Abt Associates consortium — composed of Abt Associates, Population Services International/PASMO, and Family Health International — has adopted a total market approach designed to increase availability of condoms in high-risk outlets. Mapping tools are used to assess high-risk outlets in high-risk zones to identify gaps in services and identify outlets not currently served. These outlets will be categorized according to socioeconomic levels and a mix of condom options — commercial, socially marketed (subsidized), and free — that effectively satisfies each target group's preferences, and strategically channels each product option to each outlet type by using a complementary mix of service delivery modalities. Abt Associates, through the PSP-One Project, has experience successfully building markets for a variety of condom options for targeted user groups in Honduras.
In addition to the male condom, the program will offer female condoms and lubricants, given the importance and relevance of both products in contributing to HIV/AIDS prevention. As part of the program, formative research will be conducted to look into issues viewed as main obstacles in the use of female condoms such as the need for information, education, and communication, and the need for provider and peer support for female-control methods.
For more information contact: PSP Central America Eugene Monterroso, Chief of Party, PSP Central America or Christel Tshikudi, Senior Contract Administrator, PSP Central America
