1. Perspectives from Young South African and Zimbabwean Women on Attributes of Four (Placebo) Vaginal Microbicide Delivery Forms
- Author
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Erica N Browne, Mary Katherine Shapley-Quinn, A van der Straten, Susan Ju, Rachel Weinrib, Nonhlanhla Mphili, Nyaradzo Mgodi, Homaira Hanif, Petina Musara, Mags Beksinska, Elizabeth T. Montgomery, Jill L. Schwartz, and Quatro Study Team
- Subjects
Adult ,Social Psychology ,HIV prevention ,Sexually Transmitted Diseases ,Black People ,Qualitative property ,HIV Infections ,End-user research ,symbols.namesake ,Young Adult ,Acceptability ,Anti-Infective Agents ,Contraceptive Agents ,Humans ,Poisson regression ,Product (category theory) ,African women ,Qualitative Research ,Original Paper ,Cross-Over Studies ,Vaginal microbicide ,Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health ,Coitus ,Product attributes ,Focus Groups ,Patient Acceptance of Health Care ,Focus group ,Microbicides ,Microbicides for sexually transmitted diseases ,Health psychology ,Administration, Intravaginal ,Infectious Diseases ,Contraception ,Scale (social sciences) ,Africa ,symbols ,Vaginal Creams, Foams, and Jellies ,Female ,Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis ,Psychology ,Demography - Abstract
Introduction Incorporating end-user input into the design of new vaginal microbicides for women is key to optimizing their uptake, consistent use, and, ultimately, success in combatting the heterosexual HIV epidemic. Methods The Quatro Study assessed four placebo forms of vaginally inserted HIV-microbicides among young microbicidenaïve African women: on-demand film, insert and gel, and monthly ring. Participants randomly used each product for 1 month and provided product satisfaction ratings (1–5 scale), and opinions on product attributes and potential alternative designs. Qualitative data were collected through focus group discussions at study exit. Multivariable associations between attribute opinions and overall product rating were examined using Poisson regression models with robust standard errors to assess the attributes most influential to satisfaction. Results Overall opinions of products and their individual attributes were generally positive; all products were rated either 4 or a 5 by ≥ 50% of participants. Attributes related to ease of use and interference with normal activities were the most salient predictors of satisfaction. Preferences for duration of use tended toward relatively shorter use periods for the ring (i.e., 1–3 months vs. 12 months) and for coitally independent dosing for the on-demand products. Conclusions How well a product fit in with participants’ lifestyles was important to their overall satisfaction. For on-demand products, greater flexibility around timing of use was desired, to avoid coital dependency of the dosing.
- Published
- 2019