Knowledge about the effectiveness of male condoms is an important part of men’s involvement in contraception. The NFHS-5 (2019–21) data from Tamil Nadu shows that men generally have basic awareness, but their understanding is not complete.
Among men aged 15–49, about 48.8% believe that condoms protect against pregnancy most of the time when used correctly. However, a large share—41.0%—say condoms work only sometimes, indicating uncertainty about proper use and effectiveness. This suggests that many men are aware of condoms but are not fully confident in their reliability.
Only 3.7% of men believe that condoms do not work at all, while 6.5% say they do not know or are unsure. Although these proportions are small, they still highlight gaps in accurate knowledge.
Urban men show slightly better understanding than rural men, and men with higher education are more likely to trust condom effectiveness. Overall, the findings suggest that while awareness of condoms is widespread in Tamil Nadu, clear and correct knowledge about their effectiveness needs strengthening, especially through education and male-focused health programmes.
