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Health Promotion Journal of Australia :... Jan 2022The female condom is a barrier method for the prevention of sexually transmissible infections and unintended pregnancy. Uptake of this method remains low in Australia,...
BACKGROUND
The female condom is a barrier method for the prevention of sexually transmissible infections and unintended pregnancy. Uptake of this method remains low in Australia, although little research has been undertaken to explore this.
METHODS
An interventional cross-sectional study was undertaken in 2019 to explore the views and experiences of women in New South Wales. After trying the female condom, they were invited to complete an online survey and/or structured interview. Training in the use of the female condom was not provided. This paper reports on qualitative findings from open-ended survey responses and interviews.
RESULTS
In total, 284 participants completed the survey and 20 participated in an interview. Most were aware of the female condom prior to participating in the study, but few had used it previously. Four broad themes were identified from the data: (i) accessibility of the female condom, including cost and availability, (ii) supporting choice in different circumstances, (iii) aspects of empowerment and control and (iv) use of gendered language.
CONCLUSIONS
The female condom may be an acceptable option for many women in Australia. To support the choice of method and promote uptake, it will be important to increase the accessibility of the female condom by raising awareness and addressing the issues of cost and availability. Further exploration of issues regarding inclusive language and messaging in health promotion campaigns and marketing is warranted to ensure that this product is accessible for all people who may wish to use it, regardless of gender or sexuality. Similar research could be undertaken with men/partners and members of the LGBTQ+ community to explore their perspectives of the female condom. SO WHAT?: To support contraceptive choice and promote the uptake of the female condom for those who desire this method, it will be important to address the issues of cost and availability. Accessibility will also be enhanced through the consideration of inclusive language and messaging in health promotion campaigns and marketing of the female condom.
Topics: Australia; Condoms; Condoms, Female; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Humans; Male; Pregnancy; Sexual Behavior; Surveys and Questionnaires
PubMed: 33522029
DOI: 10.1002/hpja.459 -
Australian Family Physician Jun 2000The female condom has been available in numerous countries for some years. It was launched in Australia on March 8th, 2000 and is an important addition to the range of... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
The female condom has been available in numerous countries for some years. It was launched in Australia on March 8th, 2000 and is an important addition to the range of barrier contraceptives.
OBJECTIVE
This article aims to provide an overview of the female condom to enable GPs and nurse practitioners to advise clients and provide information about its use.
DISCUSSION
The female condom is an effective form of contraception. When used correctly it has a failure rate of about 5%, which compares favourably with other forms of barrier contraception. It is important that users are instructed on insertion, in particular the need to guide the penis into the condom. Evidence shows that it reduces the incidence of sexually transmitted infections. There may also be additional benefit in reducing wart virus and herpes transmission, as there is greater protection to the vulva and the base of the penis, when compared with the male condom. The female condom has high user acceptability, and offers advantages in terms of sensitivity and also ease of use by men with erectile dysfunction. It is the only barrier protection under a woman's control, giving protection to the vagina and vulva as well as the cervix.
Topics: Australia; Condoms, Female; Contraception; Female; Humans; Male; Sensitivity and Specificity; Sexually Transmitted Diseases
PubMed: 10863812
DOI: No ID Found -
Annals of Global Health 2022Sexually transmitted infections, including HIV, remain a significant public health challenge for low- and middle-income countries, and about 111 million unintended... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Sexually transmitted infections, including HIV, remain a significant public health challenge for low- and middle-income countries, and about 111 million unintended pregnancies occur in these countries annually. The female condom is the only commonly available method that affords women and girls more control in protecting themselves from sexually transmitted infections, as well as unintended pregnancies. Yet, the female condom only accounts for 1.6% of total condom distribution worldwide.
OBJECTIVES
To help fill the gaps in an understanding of what works for improved acceptability and use of the female condom in low- and middle-income countries, we conducted a systematic review of the literature that focuses on acceptability of the FC, as examined in the specific settings of intervention programs or research in low- and middle-income countries.
METHODS
We conducted a preliminary search of two purposively selected databases (PubMed and POPLINE) for English language articles from 2009 to 2019 with the keyword "female condom." PubMed yielded 145 articles, while POPLINE yielded 164 articles. Included studies involve a purposive, interventional deployment of the female condom; have occurred in a low- or middle-income country, as defined by the World Bank; and have focused on acceptability of the female condom. Upon review of duplicates and abstracts, a total of 14 articles made the final selection.
FINDINGS
The included articles represent seven different countries: the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, China, Malaysia, Nicaragua, South Africa, and Uganda. We identified four key barriers to FC acceptability, including partner acceptability, functionality, aesthetics, and access. We identified four key facilitators to FC acceptability, including repeated use, supportive attitudes, protection confidence, and reproductive control.
CONCLUSION
Effective promotion and uptake of the female condom in low- and middle-income countries can be realized if novel strategies and approaches are implemented to tackle persistent barriers to acceptability.
Topics: Condoms, Female; Developing Countries; Female; Humans; Male; Pregnancy; Pregnancy, Unplanned; Sexually Transmitted Diseases; South Africa
PubMed: 35433283
DOI: 10.5334/aogh.3612 -
Contraception Apr 2011Like male condoms, female condoms (FCs) provide protection against unplanned pregnancy and most sexually transmitted infections including HIV. The first FC made by the... (Review)
Review
Like male condoms, female condoms (FCs) provide protection against unplanned pregnancy and most sexually transmitted infections including HIV. The first FC made by the Female Health Company was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) in 1993. Since 2000, several different types of FCs have become available or are in development to lower the cost and/or improve acceptability. Although similar in function, new FCs often differ in design and materials. Classified as Class III medical devices by the USFDA, FCs have a regulatory process that is more complex than that for male condoms. This, coupled with the lack of an international standard to verify the quality of new devices, has hindered new products gaining regulatory approvals and entering the market. We review the existing regulatory pathway for FCs, the progress made in developing standards specifically for FCs and the FCs available now or in development, including their current status regarding approval.
Topics: Condoms, Female; Contraception; Female; Humans; Male
PubMed: 21397088
DOI: 10.1016/j.contraception.2010.07.022 -
African Journal of Reproductive Health Dec 2014Sub-Saharan African women are affected disproportionately highly by AIDS, while experiencing lack of choice for devices which protect them against sexual transmitted... (Review)
Review
Sub-Saharan African women are affected disproportionately highly by AIDS, while experiencing lack of choice for devices which protect them against sexual transmitted diseases, including HIV. One should expect that global policy makers react positive to the female condom, a contraceptive device which offers dual protection. However, those policy makers often argue that the female condom is not acceptable to its users. Our objective is to find out whether this general statement is based on existing empirical data. Through a literature review we analysed empirical studies done between 2003 and 2013 and compared the extent to which female condoms were acceptable among women in sub-Saharan Africa. We found that acceptability was defined in different ways, along the line of two types of studies: intervention and non-intervention studies. The intervention studies defined acceptability as women who agreed to use the female condom several times. The non-intervention studies which were not linked to specific interventions, operationalized acceptability in terms of women who liked the female condom, not necessarily based on practical experience or use. Intervention studies led to a high proportion of women using the technology, rating the experiences as satisfactory, although recommending technical improvements. In contrast, non-intervention studies showed low use due to non-acceptability mixed with reasons of unfamiliarity, unavailability or unaffordability. We concluded that women in sub-Saharan Africa accepted the use of the female condom when potential users were given access to the device, and exposed to interventions which supported the use of a female condom.
Topics: Africa South of the Sahara; Choice Behavior; Condoms, Female; Female; Health Services Accessibility; Humans; Patient Preference; Sexually Transmitted Diseases; Women; Women's Health
PubMed: 25854091
DOI: No ID Found -
Contraception: X 2023To assess preferences for female condom (FC) colors and scents.
OBJECTIVES
To assess preferences for female condom (FC) colors and scents.
STUDY DESIGN
Women aged 18-40 years were randomized to one of three FCs (FC2, Cupid1, Cupid2) two of which offered a choice of color and scent (red/strawberry, purple/vanilla, natural/unscented). Women could choose any variety within condom types while participating in an FC contraceptive efficacy study in South Africa.
RESULTS
One hundred and thirty-three women were allocated to each FC type. Strawberry was the most popular variety for both FC2 and Cupid1 (60.9%, 78.3% respectively). Some women chose more than one variety but few chose the natural.
CONCLUSIONS
Data support a clear preference for colored and scented FCs.
IMPLICATIONS
These data can inform FC programme managers to predict demand for different varieties of FC and can adjust supply of FCs accordingly.
PubMed: 37554547
DOI: 10.1016/j.conx.2023.100095 -
The Journal of the Association of... 2019Intimate partners of people living with HIV are at risk of HIV infection. We assessed the acceptability of female condom use among 89 married, heterosexual,... (Observational Study)
Observational Study
Intimate partners of people living with HIV are at risk of HIV infection. We assessed the acceptability of female condom use among 89 married, heterosexual, HIV-serodiscordant couples from Sichuan and Hunan provinces in China for this prospective observational cohort study. Participants used female condoms for 3 months, reporting use and attitudes in written logs and questionnaires. At the end of the study, 58.4% of couples expressed willingness to continue using female condoms. Factors associated with willingness to use female condoms were (a) the female partner reporting having experienced forced sex by the male partner, (b) applying a lubricant to the penis, (c) understanding the correct application method, (d) being married more than 20 years, and (e) experiencing no difficulty during the first use. Most HIV-serodiscordant couples found female condoms to be acceptable. Increasing access to female condoms could be an acceptable alternative barrier method to male condoms for preventing HIV transmission.
Topics: Adult; China; Condoms, Female; Female; HIV Infections; HIV Seronegativity; Heterosexuality; Humans; Interviews as Topic; Male; Middle Aged; Patient Acceptance of Health Care; Prospective Studies; Sexual Partners
PubMed: 31241507
DOI: 10.1097/JNC.0000000000000004 -
Curationis Sep 2018The female condoms are a barrier method of contraception. The FC1 female condom is made from soft thin plastic called polyurethane and has been replaced by FC2 female...
BACKGROUND
The female condoms are a barrier method of contraception. The FC1 female condom is made from soft thin plastic called polyurethane and has been replaced by FC2 female condom, which is made of synthetic latex. The female condom is worn inside the vagina and acts as a barrier to prevent semen getting to the womb. It is about 75% - 82% effective with normal use. When used correctly all of the time, female condoms are 95% effective. Despite evidence of its effectiveness, the use of the female condom has continued to face resistance from both women and men.
OBJECTIVES
The objectives of this study were to determine clients' level of knowledge of female condom, identify predominant methods of contraception, examine young women's views regarding the female condom and identify barriers to the use of female condoms by young women.
METHOD
A simple random sampling approach was used to recruit young women between 15 and 34 years in Jwaneng, Botswana. Data were collected using self-administered structured questionnaire from women accessing healthcare services in the three health facilities in 2015. Descriptive statistics, exploratory factor analysis and the chi-square test techniques were applied using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) statistical programme version 23 for Windows to analyse data.
RESULTS
The findings based on factor loadings show low utilisation of the female condom and highlights the significant challenges about the material, size, shape and timing of insertion. Respondents had stronger views on the structure of the condom. There was no significant relationship between attitude and method of contraception.
CONCLUSION
Acceptability of the female condom involves complex factors such as women position and decision-making power in a relationship, attitude and knowledge. Attitude, knowledge and power relations play a role in the extent to which women would want to try or use it. Various strategies need to be developed to effectively promote the female condom amongst young women.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Botswana; Condoms, Female; Contraception Behavior; Female; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Humans; Socioeconomic Factors; Surveys and Questionnaires; Women's Health; Young Adult
PubMed: 30326709
DOI: 10.4102/curationis.v41i1.1887 -
Sexual Health Mar 2012South Africa has responded to the sexually transmissible infection and HIV epidemic with a rapid expansion of its national-level public sector condom program. Male... (Review)
Review
South Africa has responded to the sexually transmissible infection and HIV epidemic with a rapid expansion of its national-level public sector condom program. Male condoms are available widely at no cost in the public sector, with expanded access via social marketing and the private sector. The female condom program is one of the largest and best established globally. National surveys show progressive increases in rates of condom use at last sex. However, inconsistent and incorrect condom use and the likelihood that condoms are discontinued in longer-term partnerships are some of the challenges impeding the condom program's successes in the fight against sexually transmissible infections and HIV. This article reviews the current condom program, related guidelines and policies, and the existing data on male and female condom use, including distribution and uptake. We discuss the main challenges to condom use, including both user and service-related issues and finally how these challenges could be addressed.
Topics: Condoms; Contraception Behavior; Female; HIV Infections; Health Services Accessibility; Humans; Male; Marketing of Health Services; Patient Acceptance of Health Care; Patient Satisfaction; Risk-Taking; Sexual Behavior; Sexually Transmitted Diseases; Social Conditions; Socioeconomic Factors; South Africa; Vulnerable Populations
PubMed: 22348633
DOI: 10.1071/SH11011 -
American Journal of Public Health Sep 2000International and US experience with the female condom has shown that the device empowers diverse populations of women, helping them negotiate protection with their... (Review)
Review
International and US experience with the female condom has shown that the device empowers diverse populations of women, helping them negotiate protection with their partners, promoting healthy behaviors, and increasing self-efficacy and sexual confidence and autonomy. This commentary reflects on some approaches that have been taken to study empowerment and makes several observations on the political and scientific initiatives needed to capitalize on this empowerment potential. Women's interest in the female condom indicates a need for more women's barrier methods to be made available. For some women, cultural proscriptions against touching the genitals may create initial hesitancy in trying these methods. But the disposition of regulatory agencies and the attitudes of health care providers has unfortunately exaggerated this reticence, thereby effectively reducing access to these methods. Also, lack of important detail in clinical studies restricts our capacity to introduce the female condom, or similar methods, under optimal conditions. Future trials should prioritize community-based designs and address a range of other critical health and social issues for women. Women's need for HIV/AIDS prevention technologies remains an urgent priority. Both political and scientific efforts are needed to realize the public health potential embodied in the female condom.
Topics: Attitude of Health Personnel; Attitude to Health; Condoms, Female; Female; HIV Infections; Health Behavior; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Health Priorities; Humans; Needs Assessment; Politics; Power, Psychological; Research Design; Women; Women's Rights
PubMed: 10983187
DOI: 10.2105/ajph.90.9.1377