The African Alliance stall at ICASA 2023 in Harare, introduced Rudo, the talking female/inner condom. Speaking about sex remains a stigmatised conversation – so Rudo was introduced to sidestep the need to speak to a person about the female/inner condom and instead speak to the condom itself.
The African Alliance interviewed 25 activists, doctors, teachers and everyday users of the inner condom about the FC2, 25 years after it was first introduced to South Africa. Condoms are still the only way to help prevent transmission of STIs other than HIV, and a robust way to prevent pregnancy. South Africa has one of the best FC2 condom programmes in the world. But, acceptance and use is still not as high as the male/external condom.
