AEGiS-14IAC: Female condom use among HIV infected women: a prospective study.

14th International AIDS Conference

Barcelona, Spain - July 7-12, 2002

Female condom use among HIV infected women: a prospective study.

Int Conf AIDS 2002 Jul 7-12; 14:(abstract no. TuOrD1234)

Magalhaes J, Iuspa AS, Costa S, Barbosa RM, Guarabyra AS, Amaral E
StateUniversity of Campinas(UNICAMP) / Centro Corsini, Campinas, Brazil

BACKGROUND: There are few prospectives studies of female condom use among HIV infected women.

METHODS: A prospective descriptive study was performed to evaluate the acceptance, adhesion, and use of female condom among 76 HIV infected women assisted at the Genital Infections-II Outpatient Clinic/UNICAMP and Centro Corsini(Campinas-Brazil), after receiving a calendar to register sexual acts and male condom use during a control cycle, before intervening. They returned after 30 days, to an intervening consisting of a training session on female condom use, with an acrylic pelvic model, bringing the sexual calendar filled. A structured questionnaire was applied at 30, 60 and 90-day- return visits, always bringing a monthly calendar with sexual acts and use of female or male condom. Statistical analysis was performed through chi-square, Fisher Exact test, McNemar and Friedman test.

RESULTS: Studied population predominantly consisted of young women, with low education level, two-thirds living with their partners. High rates of use (87%), acceptability (68%) and continuation (78%) of female condom use were observed during the 90-days- study interval. There was an expressive reduction on proportion of unprotected sexual acts(from 14% to 6%). Main advantages cited included bringing the power of decision to women, double-protection against pregnancy and STD/AIDS, and the use not dependent on men. Disadvantages referred included ugly appearance, high prices and being noisy; this last one was no more referred at the end of the period. Protected sex acts were more prevalent in sorodiscordants couples and in previous consistent condoms users.

CONCLUSION: Adding female condom to contraceptive options with appropriate counselling was able to reduce unprotected sex among HIV infected women. This particular population is specially motivated and receptive to female condom use, extracting important benefits from having access to this method.

Keywords: AEGIS, Condoms, Female, HIV Infections, Safe Sex, Condoms, Prospective Studies, HIV Seropositivity, Coitus, Contraceptive Devices, Female, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, Questionnaires, Brazil, Female, Human, Male, Pregnancy, utilization

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