No one can say that Norwegians have been on the lazy side after the pandemic. Because after a sharp decline in venereal diseases in 2020 and 2021, it has become worse than ever. At the same time, the only thing that protects against both diseases, namely the condom, is unpopular among Norwegian men. A total of 45 per cent of Norwegian men between 18 and 49 dislike condoms. – We actually think it is a bit surprising that the numbers were as high as they were. That’s what Birgitte Andrea Kasin says in Medisinerne’s sexual information (MSO) in Trondheim. In her spare time, she and other medical students travel to schools with teaching programs on sexuality. Birgitte Andrea Kasin in Medisinerne’s sexual information (MSO) wants more people to use condoms. Photo: Sverre Lilleeng / news – Sexually transmitted diseases are ravaging Norway these days. And some people may feel pressured to sleep with a person without using a condom, even if they really want to use one. But what can actually be done to change Norwegians’ attitude to condoms? Many attempts – It really is the question of a thousand kroner. For that, both Norway and other countries have tried in many different ways over many years, says Arild Johan Myrberg. He is a senior advisor in the Norwegian Directorate of Health. The health authorities have had a long series of condom campaigns over the past 40 years. They have warned against HIV and AIDS. They tried to be funny. Or about. Everything to make Norwegians toughen up. The Directorate of Health’s campaign from spring 2023. It was run, among other things, on Snapchat and Instagram. In 2018, 7-Eleven had this advertising campaign in Norway. The message was that foreign tourists had to get condoms because there were so many people with chlamydia in Norway. Condom campaign from the 1980s. In the text above the drawing it says “Are you dressed for every occasion?”. Beneath the drawing it says “Aids is transmitted through sexual contact – condoms protect.” – It is difficult to say what works and what does not work when it comes to these campaigns, says Myrberg. But he believes that knowledge, availability and training are important to get more people to use condoms. Arild Johan Myrberg in the Norwegian Directorate of Health thinks it’s easy to understand that people think condoms are a bit sleazy. Photo: Directorate of Health – Now we have an outbreak of gonorrhea. We have problems linked to antibiotic resistance when it comes to gonorrhea, and the bacterium is highly contagious. The second is to have condoms readily available. It doesn’t help to be the world’s best theoretical condom user if you don’t have one now and then. The third thing that can help, according to Myrberg, is practice. Kasin from MSO agrees with that. – Practice at home, lots of it! Buy all possible condoms and try to find something that suits you. And it is so important that girls go home and practice. Maybe buy a banana or cucumber and practice putting on a condom. Worst in Europe? Norwegians have been told for the past decade that they are the worst in Europe for using condoms. – In the worst case, it could become a self-fulfilling prophecy. Because who then wants to stand out and say that “I always use a condom when meeting a new partner”. Myrberg believes that birth control pills, birth control sticks and spirals can help explain why Norwegians are perhaps worse off than others. – One possible reason is that in Norway we have had good access to effective hormonal contraception to prevent unwanted and unplanned pregnancies. But it is well known that this does not help against sexually transmitted infections.
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