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Preference Between Precoital and Daily Use of Duet® and BufferGel in Zimbabwe

Preferencia entre uso precoito y diario de duet® y buffergel en Zimbabue

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Abstract

Duet® is a microbicide-delivery system and cervical barrier for use daily or precoitally. We conducted a crossover study among 80 Zimbabwean women to explore factors associated with use-regimen preference. Women were assigned in random order to 14 days of precoital and 14 days of daily Duet and BufferGel use. About 51 % of women preferred precoital use, 39 % preferred daily use, and 10 % liked both equally. Overall product adherence during sex was similar for both use-regimens. In multivariable analysis, diaphragm experience was associated with preference for precoital use (AOR 2.80, 95 % CI 1.01–7.76). Reasons for preferring precoital use included use only when needed, cleanliness, and discomfort with daily use. Daily use preference included convenience, discreetness, and being prepared for “sex-on-demand.” Different personal and life circumstances may result in varying use-regimen preferences. Methods that can accommodate both coitally-related and daily use may be advantageous by providing more choice to users.

Resumen

Duet® es una tecnología de repartir microbicidas y una barrera cervical para uso diario o precoito. Conducimos un estudio cruzado entre 80 mujeres zimbabuenses para explorar factores asociados con la preferencia del uso. Les asignamos al azar a 14 días del uso precoito y a 14 días del uso diario de Duet® y BufferGel. Casi 51 % de muejeres prefieron uso precoito, 39 % prefieron uso diario, y 10 % los dos por igual. Sobre todo, adherirse al producto durante relaciones sexuales fue similar para los dos usos. En un análisis multivariante, experiencia con el diafragma fue asociada con la preferencia del uso precoito (AOR 2.80, 95 % CI 1.01–7.76). Razones por la preferencia del uso precoito incluyeron el uso solo para necesidad, paracer higiénico, y incomodidad con el uso diario. Preferencias para el uso diario inlcuyeron ser conveniente, descreto, y estar preparado para “sexo al dicho.” Es posible que circunstancias personales o de la vida resultan en la variedad de las preferencias del uso. Métodos que se acomodan el uso precoito tal como el uso diario pueden ser ventajosos por proveer más opciones para usuarios.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank the study participants and acknowledge the contributions of the Zimbabwe study team staff, and the site investigator, Dr. Tsungai Chipato. The team thanks Dr. Thomas Moench of ReProtect, Inc., Baltimore, MD, for reviewing an earlier version of the manuscript, and providing technical support during the trial. This study was supported by the International Partnership for Microbicide.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Women’s Global Health Imperative, RTI International, 114 Sansome Street, suite 500, San Francisco, CA, 94104, USA

    Ariane van der Straten, Elizabeth Montgomery, Sue Mavedzenge & Helen Cheng

  2. RTI International, San Francisco, CA, USA

    Alix Lutnick

  3. Center for AIDS Prevention Studies, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA

    Ariane van der Straten

  4. UZ-UCSF Collaborative Research Programme in Women’s Health, Harare, Zimbabwe

    Petina Musara

  5. International Partnership for Microbicides, Paarl, South Africa

    Cynthia Woodsong

Authors
  1. Ariane van der Straten
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  2. Elizabeth Montgomery
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  3. Sue Mavedzenge
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  4. Petina Musara
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  5. Helen Cheng
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  6. Alix Lutnick
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  7. Cynthia Woodsong
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Correspondence to Ariane van der Straten.

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van der Straten, A., Montgomery, E., Mavedzenge, S. et al. Preference Between Precoital and Daily Use of Duet® and BufferGel in Zimbabwe. AIDS Behav 16, 1799–1807 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-012-0256-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-012-0256-4

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