 | The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
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| The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
Jocelyn Warren, MPH, Research Program on Women's Health, University of Oregon, Center for the Study of Women in Society, 1201 University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403-1201, (541) 346-5593, jocelynw@oregon.uoregon.edu, S. Marie Harvey, DrPH, Center for the Study of Women in Society, University of Oregon, 1201 University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403-1201, and Sheryl Thorburn Bird, PhD, MPH, Department of Public Health, Oregon State University, 264 Waldo Hall, Corvallis, OR 97331-6406.
Multiple HIV/STI prevention methods are needed so that women and men have options that fit with their personal preferences, life circumstances, and sociocultural contexts. Research on the diaphragm suggests that it is effective in preventing some STIs, could potentially prevent HIV, and has advantages over other female-controlled methods. A randomized, controlled trial among 4500 women in Zimbabwe and South Africa is currently being conducted to test the safety and effectiveness of the diaphragm against HIV infection. Vaginal microbicides (currently under development) also have potential for increasing HIV/STI prevention options. This potential will be fulfilled, however, only if these methods are used. The overall goal of the study is to increase understanding of the factors that influence acceptability of the diaphragm, microbicides and male condoms among male and female college students. We include men in our study because previous research indicates that method choice is often a joint decision and that women and men differ in what they find important in a method. We examine the influence of method characteristics, user characteristics, relationship dynamics and situational factors on the acceptability of these three methods. In addition, we explore if men and women differ in their perceptions and acceptability of the methods. Self-administered questionnaires are being completed by a sample of college students. Results will be presented and implications for the development of new female-controlled barrier methods and strategies to improve the acceptability of these new prevention methods will be discussed.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: African American, HIV Risk Behavior
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.