TY - JOUR
T1 - Acceptability of a microbicide among women and their partners in a 4-country phase I trial
AU - Bentley, Margaret E.
AU - Fullem, Andrew M.
AU - Tolley, Elizabeth E.
AU - Kelly, Clifton W.
AU - Jogelkar, Neelam
AU - Srirak, Namtip
AU - Mwafulirwa, Liness
AU - Khumalo-Sakutukwa, Gertrude
AU - Celentano, David D.
PY - 2004/7
Y1 - 2004/7
N2 - Objectives. We analyzed qualitative and quantitative data for 98 HIV-negative, low-risk women in Malawi, Zimbabwe, India, and Thailand who participated in a safety and acceptability study of BufferGel, a vaginal microbicide to determine the across-country acceptability of vaginal microbicides among women and their partners. Methods. Quantitative survey data were collected at 7 and 14 days after use among enrolled women, and exit interviews were conducted with women and their partners in separate focus group discussions. Results. Acceptability was high in all sites (73% of women approved of the microbicide). Women in Africa, where HIV infection rates are highest, were virtually unanimous in their desire for such a product, suggesting that an individual's perception of being at risk for HIV will outweigh concerns about side effects, problems applying a product, or other factors, when products are shown to be efficacious. But men and women reported that use, which was kept secret from an intimate partner, would be difficult and might "break the trust" of a relationship. Conclusions. Acceptability research across diverse settings through all stages of microbicide research, development, and postlicensure dissemination can help maximize acceptability and use.
AB - Objectives. We analyzed qualitative and quantitative data for 98 HIV-negative, low-risk women in Malawi, Zimbabwe, India, and Thailand who participated in a safety and acceptability study of BufferGel, a vaginal microbicide to determine the across-country acceptability of vaginal microbicides among women and their partners. Methods. Quantitative survey data were collected at 7 and 14 days after use among enrolled women, and exit interviews were conducted with women and their partners in separate focus group discussions. Results. Acceptability was high in all sites (73% of women approved of the microbicide). Women in Africa, where HIV infection rates are highest, were virtually unanimous in their desire for such a product, suggesting that an individual's perception of being at risk for HIV will outweigh concerns about side effects, problems applying a product, or other factors, when products are shown to be efficacious. But men and women reported that use, which was kept secret from an intimate partner, would be difficult and might "break the trust" of a relationship. Conclusions. Acceptability research across diverse settings through all stages of microbicide research, development, and postlicensure dissemination can help maximize acceptability and use.
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U2 - 10.2105/AJPH.94.7.1159
DO - 10.2105/AJPH.94.7.1159
M3 - Article
C2 - 15226137
AN - SCOPUS:3042737070
SN - 0090-0036
VL - 94
SP - 1159
EP - 1164
JO - American journal of public health
JF - American journal of public health
IS - 7
ER -