Acceptability of a microbicide among women and their partners in a 4-country phase I trial.
OBJECTIVE
We analyzed qualitative and quantitative data for 98 HIV-negative, low-risk women in Malawi, Zimbabwe, India, and Thailand who participated in a safety and acceptability study of BufferGel, a vaginal microbicide to determine the across-country acceptability of vaginal microbicides among women and their partners.


METHODS
Quantitative survey data were collected at 7 and 14 days after use among enrolled women, and exit interviews were conducted with women and their partners in separate focus group discussions.


RESULTS
Acceptability was high in all sites (73% of women approved of the microbicide). Women in Africa, where HIV infection rates are highest, were virtually unanimous in their desire for such a product, suggesting that an individual's perception of being at risk for HIV will outweigh concerns about side effects, problems applying a product, or other factors, when products are shown to be efficacious. But men and women reported that use, which was kept secret from an intimate partner, would be difficult and might "break the trust" of a relationship.


CONCLUSIONS
Acceptability research across diverse settings through all stages of microbicide research, development, and post-licensure dissemination can help maximize acceptability and use.
Bentley
Margaret E
ME
Carolina Population Center Department of Nutrition, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill 27516, USA. pbentley@unc.edu
Fullem
Andrew M
AM
Tolley
Elizabeth E
EE
Kelly
Clifton W
CW
Jogelkar
Neelam
N
Srirak
Namtip
N
Mwafulirwa
Liness
L
Khumalo-Sakutukwa
Gertrude
G
Celentano
David D
DD
D000180:Acrylic Resins; D000282:Administration, Intravaginal; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D008295:Malawi / Q000453:epidemiology; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012307:Risk Factors; D012449:Safety; D012747:Sexual Partners / Q000523:psychology*; D013089:Spermatocidal Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013785:Thailand / Q000453:epidemiology; D014622:Vaginal Creams, Foams, and Jellies; D014930:Women / Q000523:psychology*; D015030:Zimbabwe / Q000453:epidemiology
D000180:Acrylic Resins; D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; C420918:BufferGel; D013089:Spermatocidal Agents; D014622:Vaginal Creams, Foams, and Jellies