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Effects of Partnership Change on Microbicide Gel Adherence in a Clinical Trial (HPTN 035)

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Abstract

Use of HIV prevention methods may vary for women by types of sexual partners. In a microbicide safety and effectiveness trial (HPTN 035) differences in adherence to a microbicide study gel were compared between women with new versus ongoing partnerships over time. 1,757 women in the three HPTN 035 trial’s arms completed the Follow-up Partner Status (FPS) questionnaire at their last study visit. Women married at baseline were asked if they had the same husband, new husband or new partner. Unmarried women were asked if they had changed partners or married. Self-reported gel adherence during the last sex act was compared at each quarterly visit between women with ongoing versus new partners. High gel adherence was compared with low gel adherence (85–100 vs. <85 % of last vaginal sex acts reported with gel use, respectively) in multivariable models to assess associations with partner change. Overall 7 % of women (n = 123) reported a new partner and 41 % (51) of those reported a new husband. Median gel adherence was reported to be 100 % in women with ongoing partners and 75 % for women with new partners (p < 0.001). In women reporting no gel use in their last sex act, only 12.5 % of the women with a new partner and none of those with an ongoing partner reported using condoms (p < 0.001). Fewer women with new partners reported using both the gel and condom during the last sex act as compared to women with ongoing partners (median 50 vs. 71.4 %, p < 0.001). After adjusting for age, site, education level, and sexual frequency, women with ongoing partners were more likely to report high gel adherence than those with new partners (AOR 2.5, 95 % CI 1.6, 3.9). This pattern persisted when gel use over time was compared between women with new versus ongoing partners. In the HPTN 035 trial, women with new partners had higher HIV incidence and reported less gel use and higher condom use. Specific counseling and support are needed to help women use potential HIV prevention methods, including microbicides, when they are changing partners.

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Acknowledgments

HPTN 035 was funded by the US National Institutes of Health and designed and implemented by the HPTN and the MTN. HPTN (U01AI46749) has been funded by the National Institute of Allergy and infectious Diseases (NIAID), Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), National Institute of Drug Abuse, and National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). MTN (U01AI068633) has been funded by NIAID, NICHD, and NIMH.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Epidemiology, University of California, 650 Charles Young Dr. 41-295CHS, Los Angeles, CA, 90095-1722, USA

    Pamina M. Gorbach

  2. SCHARP, Seattle, WA, USA

    Clifton W. Kelly & Joleen A. Borgerding

  3. HIV Prevention Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, Durban, South Africa

    Gita Ramjee

  4. Kamuzu Central Hospital, Tidziwe Centre, UNC Project, Lilongwe, Malawi

    Tchangani Tembo

  5. College of Medicine - Johns Hopkins University Research Project at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital, Blantyre, Malawi

    Newton Kumwenda

  6. Spilhaus Clinical Research Site, Harare, Zimbabwe

    Petina Musara

  7. Centre for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia

    Sarah Roberts

  8. University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    Lisa Maslankowski

  9. University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA

    Sarah Roberts

Authors
  1. Pamina M. Gorbach
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  2. Clifton W. Kelly
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  3. Joleen A. Borgerding
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  4. Gita Ramjee
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  5. Tchangani Tembo
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  6. Newton Kumwenda
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  7. Petina Musara
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  8. Sarah Roberts
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  9. Lisa Maslankowski
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Pamina M. Gorbach.

Additional information

This study was conducted on behalf of HPTN 035 Protocol Team.

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Gorbach, P.M., Kelly, C.W., Borgerding, J.A. et al. Effects of Partnership Change on Microbicide Gel Adherence in a Clinical Trial (HPTN 035). AIDS Behav 18, 855–861 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-013-0651-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-013-0651-5

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