Adolescent girls' communication with "mothers" about topical microbicides.
OBJECTIVE
Topical microbicides, a female-initiated method to protect against sexually transmitted infections (STI) and pregnancy, will only be effective if found acceptable. Mothers may have an influence on acceptability and use among adolescent girls. The current study examined the communication between girls and mothers to understand the potential predictors and nature of conversations regarding surrogate microbicide products.


METHODS
Sexually experienced girls, 14 to 21 years, were recruited for a 6-month study examining microbicide acceptability. During face-to-face interviews, qualitative data were collected regarding communication between girls and mothers. Two independent raters coded the responses, which were organized into themes. Themes were interpreted according to the conceptual understanding of mother-daughter communication.


RESULTS
Fifty percent of the 171 girls with codable responses had a conversation with their mother. Higher levels of indirect parental monitoring were related to being more likely to have a conversation. Concrete events related to the study (i.e. receiving phone call from the researcher, having an appointment, or seeing the product) or inquiries by mothers appeared to promote conversation. Barriers to conversation included the private nature of the information and relationship issues between the mother and daughter. Conversations often addressed issues related to girls' participation in the study, although some conversations included global issues related to sexuality.


CONCLUSIONS
Girls may talk to their mothers about new products for STI prevention, and such conversations may provide opportunities to promote use.
Sunder
Punita K
PK
Department of Preventive Medicine and Community Health, University of Texas Medical Branch-Galveston, Texas 77555-0319, USA.
Ramos
Stephanie
S
Short
Mary B
MB
Rosenthal
Susan L
SL
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D000328:Adult; D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003142:Communication; D003144:Communication Barriers; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009034:Mother-Child Relations; D009035:Mothers; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*
D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local