15 Mar 2013

Call for condom distribution in PNG jails

1:04 pm on 15 March 2013

A new report compiled by Papua New Guinea's Institute of Medical Research calls for condoms to be made more widely available in prisons.

One of the authors of the study report, Angela Kelly, told Integrated Regional Information Networks that access to condoms for prisoners could help prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS.

The institute's study found that unsafe, forced and consensual male-to-male sex was taking place in some of the country's' overcrowded prisons.

Some sexual relations were long-term, some were conducted for goods trade or as a punishment, and some involved more than one partner.

The study found that only one of the four prisons visited provided condoms to inmates.

Although condoms are central to the government's HIV prevention programme, there is no official policy in place regarding prisons, with many viewing their distribution as supporting male-to-male sex, which is illegal in PNG.