This poster was one of the message instruments used in the “Pinch, leave an inch and roll” campaign which promoted putting on a male condom properly.
The campaign was implemented during 2009 to 2010 by Jamaica’s Ministry of Health’s National HIV/STI Programme (NHP) as part of its behaviour change communication strategy which combines interpersonal and mediated communication-based interventions. (See The Communication Initiative’s article for more on the particular behaviour change communication strategy). The campaign targeted 15-24 year old males.
Reactions to campaign:
Both positive and negative reactions were voiced as illustrated in the local newspapers…
- Esther Tyson
- Ann Marie Campbell
- Corve DaCosta
- Devon Dick
- S. Peter Cambell Sr
- Paul H. Reid
Inadvertently, singer Queen Ifrica (aka Ventrice Morgan) used the phrase in her song titled “No Bwoy” which was released in July 2009: (See 0:30 where chorus begins with My body is the temple of the Most High and leads to Pinch, leave an inch and roll away yourself)
Despite the controversy, the campaign’s strength was its message that was clearly focused on a specific behaviour. Behaviours such as condom use are complex and within communication frameworks, placing focus on specific actions can contribute to larger goals such as a reduction in HIV transmission rates.