In order to make contraceptives more easily available to local residents, especially migrant workers, Putuo District plans to distribute free condoms in more public toilets.
A trial run of the program saw 5,665 condoms distributed, with migrants taking about half of them.
This is the first time that a district Population and Family Planning Commission has cooperated with the regional Public Sanitation Bureau to distribute condoms in toilets.
Public toilets are a convenient place to give out the condoms and they give people a little privacy, said Tang Zini, vice director of the district family planning commission.
"Having some 100 toilets under our administration, we selected 10 toilets, which are near busy streets, residential areas and entertainment venues, to equip with cabinets containing condoms since April," said Zhu Huidi from the Putuo sanitation bureau.
To streamline the program, medical experts educated employees at the public bathrooms about reproductive health in March. They are required to manage the condoms, promote basic education and make notes on who is taking the contraceptives.
"Since toilet keepers are not professionals, we only give out condoms (not birth control pills) for fear of waste or improper use," Zhu said. "In addition to toilets under the bureau, we also plan to set up such cabinets in toilets in public places like department stores and hotels."
Officials said local people can get free contraceptives at neighborhood committees or buy them in stores.
Many people are too shy to pick up free condoms from their neighborhood committee, especially migrant workers who tend to be less educated about sex. They also earn far less money than locals so buying condoms is often financially difficult for them, Zhu said.