LELO survey highlights continuing changes in condom use

World AIDS Day, celebrated on December 1 each year, is a critical day for global reflection, commemoration and renewed commitment to ending the HIV epidemic. It is an important platform for solidarity in the fight against HIV, a point underlined by the results of a recent LELO survey that revealed a worrying shift in attitudes and practices around condom use.

Condom use declines

Despite decades of education campaigns emphasizing the importance of barrier protection, a July 2025 survey in the UK, US, France, Italy, Spain and Sweden found that significant numbers of people use condoms less frequently.

• 17% of respondents reported Condom use rates significantly reduced in the past five years.

• 8% of participants admitted that they had Never used a condom Not at all.

• in turn, 30% Always use condoms, and 17% Use them most of the time and almost 40% Reports no change in its use.

A small but worrying group, 6% of respondents think Condoms are no longer as important as they once were because AIDS is no longer the threat it was in the 1980s and 1990s.

High awareness and behavioral change

The findings suggest a disconnect between heightened awareness of safe sex and current behaviour. Surveys confirm that education efforts are largely successful in raising awareness of the importance of condoms:

• 75% People who participated in the survey believed that using condoms is the definition of safe sex.

• nine out of ten people Be aware of the potential risks associated with unprotected sex, such as sexually transmitted infections and unwanted pregnancy.

• three quarters Some of them feel they have received adequate, comprehensive sex education.

The primary motivation for using condoms remains the same: to avoid STDs (38%) and prevent pregnancy (34%). Additionally, most people feel comfortable discussing birth control 77% Easily discuss with partners and 62% and friends.

Misconceptions and Socioeconomic Barriers

Socioeconomic factors and persistent misconceptions continue to pose barriers to sustained condom use. The vast majority, 68% Respondents believed that income, education level and access to health care led to lower use of condoms or other contraceptive methods.

Better education is needed to address long-standing misconceptions, including:

• I believe I have a few partners Not worth using condoms (15%).

• think Buying condoms is embarrassing (14%).

• hold this view Having sex without a condom once in a while is not a big deal (12%).

• Assume that condoms break often, are not worth using and/or are too cumbersome, causing them to Choose not to use them at all (9%).

Continuing calls to action

Despite significant progress in treatment and prevention, HIV/AIDS remains a global health challenge. LELO stresses that World AIDS Day remains as important as ever because it:

• fight shame by raising awareness “Undetectable = Untransmittable” (U=U)meaning people living with HIV who are on effective treatment and have an undetectable viral load cannot spread the virus.

• remember and pay tribute Advocates, researchers, health care workers, and people living with HIV inspire continued efforts toward universal access to care and prevention services.

• Encourage individuals to understand their HIV status Early detection and prevention through testing.

• Promote global solidarity and shared responsibility In the fight to eradicate HIV/AIDS.

The world needs to work together to combat #endHIVepidemic, and LELO remains committed to making this happen.

*Survey of LELO conducted by Censuswide, July 2025; 6,003 respondents from UK, US, France, Italy, Spain and Sweden.

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