title: Improving Adherence to Post-Cervical Biopsy Sexual Abstinence in Kenyan Female Sex Workers.
abstract: Cervical biopsies offer a unique opportunity for studying local immune response. To investigate hormonally induced immune fluctuations in cervical tissues of Kenyan female sex workers, we improved biopsy sampling protocol safety. Here, we report on steps taken to minimize exposure to HIV following two cervical biopsies.
  
  
  
  Women were asked to abstain from vaginal intercourse to limit HIV exposure during wound healing with financial compensation. A comprehension tool for informed consent, on-site detection of prostate-specific antigens indicating unprotected intercourse within 48 hr, and bi-weekly text message reminders were implemented.
  
  
  
  The implemented methods improved compliance with post-procedure abstinence by two times (P = 0.013). Fourteen days following a cervical biopsy, no sign of genital inflammation or change in HIV T-cell target proportion were observed.
  
  
  
  This study provides new tools for limiting HIV exposure in studies requiring biopsy sampling among women at risk of acquiring HIV.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada.|Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada.|Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya.
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lajoie
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada.
authors.forename: Genevieve
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Boily-Larouche
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada.
authors.forename: Kelsie
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Doering
authors.affiliation: Kenya AIDS Control Program, Nairobi, Kenya.
authors.forename: Juliana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cheruiyot
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada.|Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya.|Kenya AIDS Control Program, Nairobi, Kenya.
authors.forename: Julius
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Oyugi
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine Solna, Center for Molecular Medicine, Clinic of Infectious Diseases, Karolinska University Hospital, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Kristina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Broliden
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada.|Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya.|Kenya AIDS Control Program, Nairobi, Kenya.
authors.forename: Joshua
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kimani
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada.|Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada.|Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya.
authors.forename: Keith R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Fowke
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001706:Biopsy; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007630:Kenya / Q000453:epidemiology; D010349:Patient Compliance; D060386:Sex Workers; D012746:Sexual Abstinence; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000276:immunology*
keywords: Female genital tract; HIV; immunology; mucosal; prostate-specific antigens; safety