This is a rather unexpected consequence of the current pandemic of covid-19: the shortage of condoms, due to a decrease in the production of latex. The UN is warning that global production is falling and the situation could be "dire". In developing countries, the agency fears indeed an increase in sexually transmitted diseases such as HIV, and the proliferation of unsafe abortions.
All latex manufacturing is slowed down
The UN only receives half of the usual deliveries. There are millions of condoms less for developing countries, humanitarian programs and the most vulnerable populations. A shortage linked to production difficulties in Southeast Asia, the world's largest producer: because of the closure of the borders, all latex production has slowed down and some condom factories in Malaysia have even had to close for several weeks.
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"40% of women live in a country where abortion is not legal"
The UN therefore fears an upsurge in sexually transmitted infections such as HIV and the proliferation of unwanted pregnancies. In West Africa, the situation could be catastrophic for many women, according to Marie Lussier of Doctors of the World. "There are more than 40% of women in the world who live in a country where abortion is not legal. However, these women will always seek to abort if their pregnancy is not desired, and for this they will use all means, "she recalls.
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There is therefore, according to her, "necessarily a really significant risk that it will be practiced in dangerous sanitary conditions, which will have extremely serious consequences on their health and can go as far as death." Some 22,000 women die each year worldwide from unsafe abortion.