MANY people do not use condoms or other forms of contraceptives mainly because their decision is controlled by their level of education, employment status, gender and customs and traditions.
These are the findings of the Department of Public Health and Primary Care at the College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Science at the Fiji National University.
The study, which was carried out in Vanuatu, showed that the level of condom use had decreased over time in the Pacific.
The study revealed that most people still relied on traditional medicine as a form of family planning.
Ten per cent of the people interviewed indicated they still believed herbal medicine and other forms of traditional medicines were the best choices.
"This study established that an individual's power to make a decision whether to access and use a condom or family planning is based on various cultural and socio-economic factors," said Dr Timaima Tuiketei of FNU.
The research showed that the operating hours of health clinics or pharmacies, negative attitude of health staff towards people accessing condoms, and the long hours spent waiting to obtain condoms were contributing factors to people not wanting to use condoms.