Expert urges better sexual health education after survey highlights condom misconceptions
Despite the availability of condoms, their usage remained alarmingly low in Malaysia, stressing the need for improved sexual health education.
SHAH ALAM - A concerning 59 per cent of Malaysians believe that condoms are unnecessary if they trust their partner.
This is a misconception highlighted by the Durex Global Sex Survey 2024.
An expert said this misunderstanding could undermine efforts to promote safe sex and prevent sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and unintended pregnancies.
Despite the availability of condoms, their usage remained alarmingly low in Malaysia, stressing the need for improved sexual health education.
Reckitt Malaysia Brand Purpose and Sustainability senior manager Phoenix Ho said it was important to foster open conversations about sexual health to address any misconceptions.
"Just like any other sexual health issues, we need to create a culture where people feel safe to discuss sexual health openly.
"Last year alone, we conducted ten workshops at local universities to debunk myths and provide accurate information," she said at the Malaysian AIDS Foundation (MAF) and Durex "Positive Living" campaign forum.
Ho pointed out that condoms were a fundamental layer of defence in sexual health which acted as a physical barrier.
However, she said despite their long history, condoms were still underutilised in Malaysia.
"Condoms act as a physical barrier that can prevent the exchange of bodily fluids, potentially blocking up to 85 per cent of HIV transmissions," she added.
She said many young people chose not to use condoms due to the lack of understanding or because they believed that trust in their partner eliminated the need for protection.
However, she said it was crucial to use condoms during any penetrative sexual activity, regardless of the level of trust between partners.
During the forum, Ho also highlighted the importance of proper condom usage and explained the basic things to look out for while using condoms.
Despite repeated education on these points, she said there was a need for ongoing efforts to ensure the correct usage of condoms.
"Many people still misuse condoms, such as using two condoms at once, which is ineffective, or not using enough lubricant, which can lead to breakage.
"It’s also essential to check the expiry date and store condoms properly to avoid damage," she said.
Ho said the Durex survey also revealed a troubling trend where many young Malaysians turned to pornography and online searches for sexual health information, which often provided misleading or inaccurate content.
She noted that pornography frequently portrayed sexual activity without condoms, creating a false impression that condoms were unnecessary.
This misinformation, she said contributed to the fact that half of Malaysians did not consider using condoms during their first sexual experience and only 44 per cent maintained the habit.
To counteract these issues, Ho said that it was crucial to provide comprehensive sexual health education from a young age.
"We need to continue our efforts to ensure that accurate information reaches the younger generation and help them make informed choices about their sexual health," she added.
