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Acceptability of the Female Condom Among Women at Risk for HIV Infection

University of Miami School of Medicine

WENDEE M. WECHSBERG

Research Triangle Institute

LINDA B. COTTLER

Washington University School of Medicine

CARL G. LEUKEFELD

University of Kentucky

HUGH KLEIN

Friends Research Institute

DAVID P. DESMOND

University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio

Few HIV/AIDS educational programs have been tailored specifically for women, and most have promoted methods requiring the full participation and cooperation of male partners. This study introduced drug-involved women to the female condom—a female-controlled method of protection from HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases. The primary aim was to assess the acceptability of this new device among high-risk women in St. Louis, San Antonio, and Rio de Janeiro. All respondents participated in a female condom education program, were asked to try the condom, and to report their experiences at two points of contact. Outcome data indicated that a sizable proportion of the women followed up used the female condom during vaginal sex on one or more occasions. In addition, many women also preferred the female condom to the male condom in terms of overall satisfaction, suggesting that there is a viable role for this device in the HIV prevention field.

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