Comparative acceptability study of the Reality female condom and the version 4 of modified Reddy female condom in India.
OBJECTIVE
Affordable, acceptable and effective female controlled options are required worldwide for prevention of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and other sexually transmitted diseases. We carried out a comparative acceptability study of Reality and Reddy (version 4) female condoms.


METHODS
Sixty eligible couples were enrolled and randomly assigned to use either Reality or Reddy condom first. They used three Reality condoms and three Reddy condoms each with at least one condom use per week.


RESULTS
Reddy female condom had a significantly better acceptability than Reality condom among women who were less educated and who had not used male condom before. In spite of higher acceptability score, participants were less confident about the Reddy condom for protecting them from HIV disease or pregnancy as compared to a male condom.


CONCLUSIONS
Female condoms are being introduced in India. This study has generated data that is suggestive of optimism for this female controlled option.
Smita
Joshi
J
National AIDS Research Institute, Post Box 1895, Bhosari, PUNE 411 026, India. sjoshi@nariindia.org
Neelam
Joglekar
J
Rochelle
D'Souza Yepthomi
DY
Kumar
B Kishore
BK
Callahan
Marianne
M
Suniti
Solomon
S
Sanjay
Mehendale
M
D000328:Adult; D019111:Single-Use Internal Condom; D003258:Consumer Behavior / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D008297:Male; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires