Acceptability of Vaginal Microbicides In Adolescent Girls

Problem: Disproportionate acquisition of sexually transmitted infections including HIV remains a social inequity for adolescent girls compared with adolescent boys. One proposed response to this problem is the use of vaginal microbicides, but little is known about the acceptance of this method by female adolescent users. Purpose: To evaluate the acceptability of vaginal microbicides to prevent STIs including HIV by female adolescents. Design: Descriptive qualitative and quantitative. Sample: Girls ages 15 to 19 years (N=26). Data collection: Qualitative and quantitative questions regarding acceptability, willingness to use, reason for use, preferred type of product, perceived partner response, method of obtaining product, cost, and how likely participants would be to have used a microbicide at their last sexual contact with their most recent partner. Analysis: Content analysis and descriptive statistics. Results: Most (N = 23) of the participants in this sample were agreeable to trying a microbicide, with many (N=16) citing preventing HIV as the most important reason for use. Many were willing to try the product as a gel or cream but most preferred an oral pill if available. Participants reported the likelihood of having used a microbicide at their last sexual contact with their most recent partner had it been available to be high. Reasons cited for not using microbicides included side effects, product not being effective, and concerns about awkwardness of applying and messiness. Conclusion: Initial acceptance of vaginal microbicides by adolescent girls appears to be positive. Important barriers to use were identified, however. Additional research is needed.