Brazil's Ministry of Health has pledged to continue plans to install condom vending machines in schools nationwide as part of the country's HIV prevention efforts.

The Health Ministry recently launched a contest for technical schools to design an improved condom vending machine and will award the winning team with $25,000.

Trial vending machines might be installed in schools as early as 2008, and the Health Ministry aims to install the machines in bars, clubs and 24-hour gas stations.

In addition, a survey recently released by UNESCO found two-thirds of parents responded that they approve of the government offering teenagers increased access to no-cost condoms and sex education.

The survey was conducted among 135 schools that participate in the condom distribution efforts, as well as a smaller number of non-participating schools, in about half of Brazil's states.

It found that 45 per cent of student’s aged 13 to 19 responded that they had active sex lives and that 60 per cent to 70 per cent reported using condoms to prevent sexually transmitted infections.

About 10 per cent of students said that they have had sex without a condom because they could not afford one, and 42 per cent of students responded that they did not have a condom available.

Source: Kaiser Network 09/Feb/07