Female condom and dual protection: training for community-based distributors and peer educators

This two-day curriculum is intended to teach community members how to contribute to the reduction of unintended pregnancy and STIs. It demonstrates that strategies that help delay initiation of sexual activity, delay age of marriage, or support a decrease in numbers of sexual partners improve the reproductive health of individuals and communities.

This two-day curriculum is organised as an update or continuing education offering for participants who are already functioning community health workers. It is probable that they are already offering the male condom. A review of the male condom is included so the trainer can confirm that CBDs are functioning correctly.

The curriculum includes practice sessions with the female and male condom using checklists. These checklists break the process of insertion and removal into each component part. The checklists are used during the training to make certain that each and every participant has mastered the entire complex skill. Each participant should be able to critique their own performance and that of the other participants by the end of training. Supervisors can then use the same checklists as they visit community-based workers in the field.

Likewise, the checklists can be used as a management tool for reviewing the progress of workers throughout the region and noting confusion, gaps in knowledge or practice, and using this information to provide updates at monthly meetings or giving special support to workers having difficulty. Thus the checklists are used in training, supervision, and management roles.