Acceptability of Carraguard Vaginal Microbicide Gel among HIV-Infected Women in Thailand
Author Information
Author(s): Whitehead Sara J., McLean Catherine, Chaikummao Supaporn, Braunstein Sarah, Utaivoravit Wat, van de Wijgert Janneke H., Mock Philip A., Siraprapasiri Taweesap, Friedland Barbara A., Kilmarx Peter H., Markowitz Lauri E.
Primary Institution: Thailand Ministry of Public Health–U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Collaboration
Hypothesis
How acceptable is Carraguard vaginal gel among HIV-infected women?
Conclusion
Daily Carraguard vaginal gel use was highly acceptable among HIV-infected women in Thailand.
Supporting Evidence
- 98% of participants reported adherence to gel use.
- 87% of women liked the gel 'somewhat' or 'very much'.
- 77% considered the volume of gel 'just right'.
- 60% of participants would recommend the gel to a friend.
Takeaway
The study found that most women liked the Carraguard gel and thought it was easy to use, which is good news for developing products to help prevent HIV.
Methodology
Participants used Carraguard gel, a placebo gel, and no product in a randomized, controlled, crossover trial for 7 days each, with acceptability assessed through interviews.
Potential Biases
Social desirability bias may have influenced participants' responses during interviews.
Limitations
The study was small and conducted at a single site, which may not represent the broader population of HIV-infected women.
Participant Demographics
Median age of participants was 34 years; 28% were married, 60% were widowed, and 25% were sexually active.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.01
Statistical Significance
p=0.01
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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