title: Acceptability of the female condom among STD clinic patients.
abstract: This study examines the acceptability of the female condom among African American and Latino patients from two inner-city sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinics through focus group discussions. Prior to the initial focus group sessions, 90% (n = 90) had heard about the female condom, 8% (n = 8) had seen it, and 2% (n = 2) had used it. Among the 41 participants (22 males and 19 females) attending a second focus group session, 85.4% (n = 35) had used the female condom at least once. Female study participants who had previous experience inserting a barrier contraceptive device, such as a diaphragm, indicated that they felt more comfortable inserting the female condom than those who had never used such a device. Male participants indicated that they were more comfortable using the female condom with their steady partners than with casual partners, whereas female participants indicated no such distinctions. These and other study findings suggest that need to promote and expand the use of the female condom as a device that protects women from STD transmissions including HIV and AIDS.
authors.affiliation: Social Intervention Group, Columbia University School of Social Work, New York, NY 10025, USA. ne5@Columbia.edu
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: el-Bassel
authors.forename: S P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Krishnan
authors.forename: R F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Schilling
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Witte
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gilbert
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American; D001290:Attitude; D019111:Single-Use Internal Condom; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission; D006630:Hispanic or Latino; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D012747:Sexual Partners; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013997:Time Factors