PARIS — France will start providing free condoms in pharmacies for folks ages 18 to 25 beginning Jan. 1, in a bid to scale back the unfold of sexually transmitted illnesses, President Emmanuel Macron mentioned on Thursday.
“It’s a small revolution for prevention,” Mr. Macron mentioned as he introduced the information throughout a well being debate with younger folks in western France.
The transfer comes as well being authorities have noticed a rise in sexually transmitted infections, corresponding to chlamydia and gonorrhea, lately. However additionally it is a part of a broader public well being marketing campaign that has led France to develop free entry to contraception and screening for sexually transmitted illnesses.
Mr. Macron mentioned that “relating to sexual well being” of younger folks, “we’ve an actual concern,” in response to reports from French information retailers current on the debate. And he acknowledged that, in terms of intercourse training, “We’re not good on this subject.”
Since 2018, the price of condoms may very well be reimbursed by the nationwide well being system in the event that they had been bought in a pharmacy with a prescription. However the measure shouldn’t be well-known to younger French folks. And greater than 1 / 4 of them say they “by no means” or “not all the time” use condoms throughout sexual activity with a brand new associate, in response to a study launched final 12 months by HEYME, a scholar medical insurance firm.
“Condom use could be very low, particularly amongst younger folks,” mentioned Catherine Fohet, a gynecologist and high member of the National Federation of Institutes of Medical Gynecology. She mentioned the value of condoms may be prohibitive but additionally pointed to their “unhealthy picture” as gadgets that scale back tactile sensation.
French well being authorities say that sexually transmitted infections, or S.T.I.s, have been on the rise lately, particularly amongst younger folks, on account of a decline in using prevention strategies.
Recently released figures present that the variety of folks contaminated with chlamydia rose final 12 months by 15 p.c in contrast with 2020, and greater than doubled in contrast with 2014, primarily based on information from screenings at non-public well being facilities.
In the meantime, gonorrhea infections have been rising since 2016, and H.I.V. infections, which condom use had assist curb within the Eighties and Nineteen Nineties, have stagnated round 5,000 from 2020 to 2021.
“There’s an explosion of S.T.I.s,” mentioned Jérôme André, the director of HF Prévention, an affiliation that organizes screenings amongst college college students. He added that in some universities of the Paris area, the speed of S.T.I.s reached 40 to 60 p.c of these examined.
“We find yourself testing tons of people that shouldn’t be contaminated,” Mr. André mentioned.
Mr. Macron mentioned in a message posted on Twitter following his announcement that different well being measures can be applied as a part of a not too long ago handed health care law. They embody free emergency contraception for all ladies in pharmacies and free testing for sexually transmitted infections with out a prescription, besides H.I.V., for folks beneath 26.
Ms. Fohet welcomed Thursday’s announcement, however she mentioned free condoms “received’t clear up all the things.” She added that “training and knowledge” had been key to convincing folks to make use of safety throughout sexual activity.
Mr. Macron acknowledged on Thursday that France wanted “to coach our lecturers significantly better on this subject, we have to increase consciousness.”
Earlier this 12 months, the French government made contraception free for all women up to age 25. The transfer was welcomed by the nation’s Nationwide Council of the Order of Midwives, which mentioned in a statement that it must be accompanied by higher sexual training for all youngsters ages 15 to 18.
“Handing out condoms is nice,” Mr. André mentioned. “However when persons are already contaminated, it’s too late.”
