Patricia S. Coffey, PhD, MPH¹, Jeanne M. Marrazzo, MD, MPH², Mags Beksinska³, Earmporn Thongkrajai, MA, Med Anthr⁴, Dilys Walker, MD⁵, Jessica Cohen, MHS⁶, Maggie Kilbourne-Brook¹, Glenn Austin, BS¹, Svitlana Okromeshko¹, Joanie Robertson, BS¹, Yancy Seamans¹, Lisa Tam¹, and Darin L. Zehrung, BS⁷. (1) PATH (Program for Appropriate Technology in Health), 4 Nickerson Street, Seattle, WA 98109-1699, 206-285-3500, mkilbou@path.org, (2) Harborview Medical Center, Infectious Diseases, University of Washington, 325 Ninth Ave. Mailstop 359931, Seattle, WA 98104, (3) Addington Hospital E Wing, Reproductive Health Research Unit, Cnr Prince and Hospital Road, Durban, South Africa, (4) Department of Nursing, Khon Kaen University, 123 Mitraparp Road, Amphoe Muang, Khon Kaen, 40002, Thailand, (5) Centro de Investigación de Salud Poblacional, Instituto Nacional de Salud Publica, Avenida Universidad 655, Cuernavaca, Mexico, (6) Technology Solutions, Program for Appropriate Technology in Health, 1455 NW Leary Way, Seattle, WA 98107, (7) Technology Solutions, Program for Appropriate Technology in Health (PATH), 1455 NW Leary Way, Seattle, WA 98107

Background: Program for Appropriate Technology in Health (PATH) acknowledges that the perspectives of women and couples are essential to the development of reproductive health technologies. When user perspectives drive product development, the final product will be easier to use, more comfortable, and more acceptable to both partners. In turn, couples may be more likely to protect themselves against sexually transmitted disease, including HIV, and unintended pregnancy with a product that has been developed with broad user input. PATH has applied this user-driven development process to create a refined female condom product.

Methodology and results: The PATH Soft-Cling Woman’s Condom consists of an inserter cap, a condom pouch, and an outer ring. The device is made primarily of polyurethane. User evaluation through clinical fittings and couples’ use of female condom prototypes has been conducted in four sites (Mexico, South Africa, Thailand, United States) over the last four years. Iterative examples of how user feedback has been used to modify the female condom design after each round of evaluation will be described. Specific examples relating to ease of use, stability during use, comfort for both partners, ease of removal, and overall acceptability of female condom prototypes will be presented.

Conclusions: Incorporating user perspectives into the product development process is viable and feasible. Including users as co-designers through their involvement in the product development process helps to create a final product that is more acceptable to potential users.

Learning Objectives:

• Participants attending this session will be able to understand and articulate why including users in the product development process is desirable and explain how the user-driven development process was applied to the development of a refined female condom product.

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.