Condom need met
Export Indicator
Progress in scaling up distribution of male and female condoms and meeting the estimated need for condoms.
Condoms have been shown to be one of the most effective methods in preventing the sexual transmission of HIV, other sexually transmitted infections and unintended pregnancy, with effectiveness that increases with consistent and correct use. The World Health Organization (WHO) and UNAIDS recommendations emphasize that condom distribution and promotion is an efficacious intervention and a critical component of combination HIV prevention.
Number of male condoms distributed in the past 12 months
Estimated number of condoms needed
Numerator/denominator
For the numerator, count the number of male and female condoms that left the central or regional warehouses for onward distribution in the previous calendar year. Data should include condoms distributed for free (public providers), condoms sold at subsidized rates through social marketing (nongovernmental organizations as providers), and condoms sold through the commercial sector (private-sector providers). There should be no double-counting of condoms in case of overlap. If condoms from public-sector warehouses are given to nongovernmental organizations or community workers for distribution, condoms should be accounted for in the public sector.
For the denominator, calculate the estimated number of condoms needed using tools such as the Condom Needs Estimation Tool (CNET). Condom need estimates will be available through the Spectrum software package in the AIM module as of 2026. If the country has conducted estimations of condom needs using another tool or methodology, please also report these estimates and the source.
Annual
- Type of provider (public provider, private provider, community-led organization, non-profit-making social marketing and social enterprises)
A count of the number of condoms that have left the central or regional warehouses can provide useful information on the supply of condoms. Since condom use is only tracked through surveys every three to five years, it is important to monitor distribution closely to be able to track uptake of condoms in real time. Analysing these data jointly with condom needs estimates can provide information on supply gaps. Countries can also use this indicator for comparing subnational distribution per male aged 15–64 years in order to understand inequities in supply and uptake. The indicator requires countries to aggregate and analyse data from different distribution channels, including the public or private sectors and social marketing, making this indicator critical for building a total market approach and exploring complementarity between different market segments.
Distribution from central or regional warehouses will not capture whether condoms are reaching facilities, are being distributed before expiry and are being used. To obtain more accurate information on uptake of condoms, countries should ideally track condom consumption, which is the number of condoms that left distribution points such as health facilities, shops or community outreach teams. This is usually done through stock counts at each distribution point at the time of replacing supply. Since such consumption data are not available in aggregated form in most countries, however, distribution from central and regional warehouses is recommended as a proxy indicator.
Condom needs estimates have a number of limitations in relation to the underlying assumptions, in particular in relation to self-reported sexual behaviour, sexual frequency in different demographic segments, and wastage at facility and individual levels.
United Nations Population Fund, World Health Organization, Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS. Position statement on condoms and the prevention of HIV, other sexually transmitted infections and unintended pregnancy. New York: United Nations Population Fund; 2015 (https://www.unfpa.org/resources/condoms-and-hiv-prevention-position-statement-unaids-unfpa-and-world-health-organization).
Condoms: the prevention of HIV, other sexually transmitted infections and unintended pregnancies. Geneva: Global HIV Prevention Coalition; 2016 (https://hivpreventioncoalition.unaids.org/en/resources/condoms-prevention-hiv-other-sexually-transmitted-infections-and-unintended-pregnancies).
Condom needs estimation tool. Geneva: Global HIV Prevention Coalition (https://hivpreventioncoalition.unaids.org/en/resources/condom-needs-estimation-tool).