A joint venture producing Durex condoms in China is participating in the country's HIV/AIDS public education campaign. Qingdao London International Latex Co. Ltd. will donate $544,000 to fund the three-year campaign. The campaign will consist of public awareness programs and informational pamphlets that advise the public on prevention. "The general public, especially in rural areas, know little about HIV/AIDS," said Li Ying, a health education institute communications official, referring to a survey that found more than 70 percent of Chinese do not know about the need to use protection during sex, and over 20 percent know nothing about AIDS or the modes of transmission. Organizers of the program hope to promote the use of condoms through the dissemination of pamphlets and, perhaps, through TV advertising. Although mass media advertisements for condoms have long been prohibited in China, policies are becoming more flexible due to the efforts of officials and public health workers.

Back to other CDC news for March 20, 2003

Previous Updates | Search the CDC archive