The female condom has proved a hit with sex workers in Cambodia since its introduction by a non-government organisation as part of its battle against HIV /AIDS last year, according to a report.

The female condom has proved a hit with sex workers in Cambodia since its introduction by a non-government organisation as part of its battle against HIV/AIDS last year, according to a report.[AFP]

Hin Sophon, manager of Population Services International's HIV/AIDS programme, told the Kampuchea Thmey newspaper that workers in western Koh Kong province and the beachside town of Sihanoukville had snapped up the new-style condoms since they began distributing them last October.

"After we trained them, we've seen that they are interested in them and have used them a lot. Within just one month we've delivered around 5,000 of the condoms to the two provinces," Hin Sophon told the Khmer-language daily.

PSI reportedly began distributing the condoms -- the only female-initiated barrier method to prevent sexually transmitted diseases -- after it found drunk male clients were refusing to wear condoms despite request from sex workers.

"So in order to avoid trouble with their clients, they can now use these condoms and the man has no need to wear his condom," Hin Sophon was quoted as saying.

On the back of their success, PSI now plans to distribute the female condoms to the three northern provinces of Siem Reap, Battambang and Banteay Meanchey.

The female condoms sell for 100 riel (0.02 dollars), twice the price of male condoms, priced at 50 riel.

Cambodia has the highest adult HIV prevalence rate in Asia. Figures for 2002 show that 2.7 percent of adult Cambodians are infected with the HIV virus (news - web sites).

AIDS has claimed 80,000 lives here and at the current rate the government expects the death toll to reach 230,000 by 2010.

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