title: Three new female condoms: which do South-African women prefer?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The widespread distribution of female condoms (FCs) in developing countries has been hindered by high unit cost, making new less expensive devices a priority for donor agencies.
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomized, crossover study assessing product preference, safety, acceptability and function of three new FCs (PATH Woman's Condom, FC2 and V-Amour) among 170 women in Durban, South Africa. A subsequent "simulated market" study provided participants with free choice of FCs and assessed condom uptake over 3 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 160 women who used at least one FC of each type, 47.5% preferred the PATH Woman's Condom (WC), 35.6% preferred FC2 and 16.3% preferred V-Amour (p<.001). Women rated the WC better than FC2 and V-Amour for appearance, ease of use and overall fit and better than V-Amour for feel. WC was rated worse than FC2 and V-Amour for lubrication volume. The simulated market demonstrated similar preferences. Total clinical failure rates (i.e., the types of failures that could result in pregnancy or STI) were low (<4%), regardless of condom type.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Three new FC types functioned similarly and were generally acceptable. Most participants preferred WC and FC2 over V-Amour, and WC was preferred over FC2 in several acceptability measures.
authors.affiliation: Family Health International, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA.
authors.forename: Carol
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Joanis
authors.forename: Mags
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Beksinska
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hart
authors.forename: Katie
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tweedy
authors.forename: Jabu
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Linda
authors.forename: Jenni
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Smit
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D019111:Single-Use Internal Condom; D003258:Consumer Behavior; D003267:Contraception / Q000379:methods*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control; D013019:South Africa; D014505:Urban Population