Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Perspectives Related to the Potential Use of Vaginal Microbicides Among Drug-Involved Women: Focus Groups in Three Cities in the United States and Puerto Rico

  • Published:
AIDS and Behavior Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

HIV transmission through heterosexual contact remains the greatest risk factor for women globally. Topical microbicides applied intravaginally may offer a female-initiated HIV prevention option for many who are unable or unwilling to use male condoms or who would want additional protection. This article presents results of focus groups in Bridgeport, Connecticut, Providence, Rhode Island, and San Juan, Puerto Rico, with women who use crack or heroin or have male partners who inject illegal drugs. Participants revealed motivation for and openness to using microbicides effective against HIV should they become available. Additional lubrication during intercourse was one of several expected positive features of microbicides; women saw lubrication as a means of enhancing pleasure and reducing condom irritation and breakage while also protecting them from infection. Conversely, some women feared that their male partners would interpret excessive lubrication as an indication of infection, improper hygiene, or evidence of sex with another man. Focus groups also provided insight into how aspects of different women's sexual lives, including partner type, might influence the issues that would concern them if and when they tried out new microbicidal products in the future.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abdool Karim, K., and Zuma, N. D. (1993). Prevention of HIV infection for women by women in Natal, South Africa, Durban. Preliminary findings, ICRW: Women and AIDS Program. Durban, South Africa: Research Institute for Diseases in a Tropical Environment.

    Google Scholar 

  • Astemborski, J., Vlahov, D., Warren, D., Solomon, L., and Nelson, K. E. (1994). The trading of sex for drugs or money and HIV seropositivity among female intravenous drug users. American Journal of Public Health, 84, 382–387.

    Google Scholar 

  • Baleta, A. (1998). Concern voiced over “dry sex” practices in South Africa. Lancet, 352, 1292.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bentley, M. E., Morrow, K., Fullem, A., Chesney, M., Horton, S., Rosenberg, Z., and Mayer, K. H. (2000). Acceptability of a novel vaginal microbicide during Phase 1 safety trial among low-risk women. Family Planning Perspectives, 32, 184–188.

    Google Scholar 

  • Blanchard, K., Coggins, C., Friedland, B., and van Wijgert, J. (1998). Men's attitudes toward vaginal products: A three-country study. New York: Population Council.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brown, J. E., Ayowa, O. B., and Brown, R. (1993). Dry and tight: Sexual practices and potential AIDS risk in Zaire. Social Science and Medicine, 37, 989–994.

    Google Scholar 

  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (1996). Contraceptive method and condom use among women at risk for HIV infection and other sexually transmitted diseases–Selected U.S. sites, 1993–1994. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 45, 820.

    Google Scholar 

  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2000). HIV/AIDS Surveillance Report, 12, 14.

    Google Scholar 

  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2001). HIV/AIDS Surveillance Report, 13, 14.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chesney, M., Bentley, M. E., Morrow, K. M., and Mayer, K. (1998, June). Real experience: The key to microbicide acceptability. Poster session presented at the 12th World AIDS Conference, Geneva.

  • Civic, D., and Wilson, D. (1996). Dry sex in Zimbabwe and implications for condom use. Social Science and Medicine, 42, 91–98.

    Google Scholar 

  • References regarding the formulation of over-the-counter vaginal spermicides. Critical issues in reproductive health. New York: Population Council.

  • Darroch, J. E., and Frost, J. J. (1999). Women's interest in vaginal microbicides. Family Planning Perspectives, 31, 16–23.

    Google Scholar 

  • de Zoysa, I., Elias, C. J., and Bentley, M. (1998). Ethical challenges in efficacy trials of vaginal microbicides for HIV prevention. American Journal of Public Health, 88, 571–575.

    Google Scholar 

  • Elias, C., and Coggins, C. (1996). Female-controlled methods to prevent sexual transmission of HIV. AIDS, 10 (Suppl. 3), S43–S51.

    Google Scholar 

  • Elias, C., and Coggins, C. (2001). Acceptability research on female-controlled barrier methods to prevent heterosexual transmission of HIV: Where have we been? Where are we going? Journal of Women's Health and Gender-Based Medicine, 10, 163–173.

    Google Scholar 

  • Elias, C. J., and Heise, L. (1994). Challenges for the development of female-controlled vaginal microbicides. AIDS, 8, 1–9.

    Google Scholar 

  • Exner, T. M., Seal, D. W., and Ehrhardt, A. A. (1997). A review of HIV interventions for at-risk women. AIDS and Behavior, 1, 93–124.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gollub, E. L. (1995). Women-centered prevention techniques and technologies. In A. O'Leary and L. S. Jemmott (Eds.), Women at risk: Issues in the primary prevention of AIDS (pp. 43-82). New York: Plenum Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gollub, E. L. (1999). Human rights is a US problem, too: The case of women and HIV. American Journal of Public Health, 89, 1479–1482.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gollub, E. (2000). The female condom: Tool for women's empowerment. American Journal of Public Health, 90, 1377.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gollub, E. L., Stein, Z., and El-Sadr, W. (1995). Short-term acceptability of the female condom among staff and patients at a New York City hospital. Family Planning Perspectives, 27, 155–158.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gross, M., Buchbinder, S., Celum, C., Hagerty, P., and Seage, G. (1998). Rectal microbicides for gay men. Are clinical trials needed? Are they feasible? Sexually Transmitted Diseases, 25, 296–302.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hammett, T., Mason, T., Joanis, C., Foster, S., Harmon, P., Robles, R., Finlanson, A., Feudo, R., Vining-Bethea, S., Jeter, G., Mayer, K., Dougherty-Iddings, P., and Seage, G. (2000a). Acceptability of formulations and application methods for vaginal microbicides among drug-involved women: Results of product trials in three cities. Sexually Transmitted Diseases, 27, 119–126.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hammett, T., Norton, G., Mason, T., Langenbahn, S., Mayer, K., Robles, R., Feudo, R., and Seage, G. (2000b). Drug-involved women as potential users of vaginal microbiocides for HIV and SID prevention: A three-city survey. Journal of Women's Health and Gender-Based Medicine, 9, 1071–1080.

    Google Scholar 

  • Harrison, P. F. (2002). Products in the pipeline: Overview, change, lessons and implications. Paper presented at Microbicides 2002, Antwerp, Belgium.

  • Heise, L. (1997). Beyond acceptability: Reorienting research on contraceptive choice. In T. K. Sundari Ravindran, M. Berer, and J. Cottingham (Eds.). Beyond acceptability: Users' perspectives on contraception. London: Reproductive Health Matters, for the World Health Organization.

    Google Scholar 

  • Heise, L., and Elias, C. (1994). Transforming AIDS prevention to meet women's needs: A focus on developing countries. Social Science and Medicine, 40, 931–943.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hira, S., Spruyt, A., Feldblum, P., Sankutu, M. R., Glover, L. H., and Steiner, M. J. (1995). Spermicide acceptability among patients at a sexually transmitted disease clinic in Zambia. American Journal of Public Health, 85, 1098–1103.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jones, D. L., Weiss, S. M., Malon, R., Ishii, M., Devieux, J., Stanley, H., Cassels, A., Tobon, J. N., Brondolo, E., LaPerriere, A., Efantis-Potter, J., O'Sullivan, M., and Schneiderman, N. (2001). A brief sexual barrier intervention for women living with AIDS: Acceptability, use, and ethnicity. Journal of Urban Health, Bulletin of the New York Academy of Medicine, 78, 593–604.

    Google Scholar 

  • Keller, A. (1979). Contraceptive acceptability research: Utility and limitations. Studies in Family Planning, 10, 230–237.

    Google Scholar 

  • Latka, M. (2001). Female-initiated barrier methods for the prevention of STI/HIV: Where are we now? Where should we go? Journal of Urban Health, Bulletin of the New York Academy of Medicine, 78, 571–580.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mantell, J. E., Hoffman, S., Weiss, E., Adeokun, L., Delano, G., Jagna, T., Exner, T. M., Stein, Z. A., Abdool Karim, Q., Scheepers, E., Atkins, K., and Weiss, E. (2001). The acceptability of the female condom: Perspectives of family planning providers in New York City, South Africa, and Nigeria. Journal of Urban Health, Bulletin of the New York Academy of Medicine, 78, 658–668.

    Google Scholar 

  • Moon, M. W., Khumalo-Sakutukwa, G. N., Heiman, J. E., Mbizvo, M. T., and Padian, N. S. (2002). Vaginal microbicides for HIV/STI prevention in Zimbabwe: What key informants say. Journal of Transcultural Nursing, 13, 19–23.

    Google Scholar 

  • Morrow, K., Rosen, R. K., Richter, L., Emans, A., Forbes, A., Day, J., Shagan, N., Maslankowski, L., Profy, A. T., Kelly, C., Abdool Karim, S. S., and Mayer, K. (2002). The acceptability of an investigational vaginal microbicide agent, Pro2000 gel. Poster presented at Microbicides 2002, Antwerp, Belgium.

  • Morrow, K. M., Rosen, R. R., Richter, L., Emans, A., Forbes, A., Day, J., Morar, N., Maslankowski, L., Profy, A. T., Kelly, C., Abdool Karim, S. S., and Mayer, K. H. (2003). The acceptability of an investigational vaginal microbicide, PRO 2000 Gel, in the context of a Phase I clinical trial. Manuscript submitted for publication.

  • Pool, R. (1999). Acceptability of the female condom and vaginal spermicidal products in Uganda. Sexual Health Exchange, 1, 5–7.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pool, R., Hart, G., Green, G., Harrison, S., Nyanzi, S., and Whitworth, J. (2000). Men's attitudes to condoms and female controlled means of protection against HIV and STDs in south-western Uganda. Culture, Health and Sexuality, 2, 197–211.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rosenthal, S. L., Cohen, S. S., and Stanberry, L. R. (1998). Topical microbicides: Current status and research considerations for adolescent girls. Sexually Transmitted Diseases, 25, 368–377.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sokal, D. C., and Hermonat, P. L. (1995). Priorities for vaginal microbicide research. American Journal of Public Health, 185, 737–738.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stein, Z. A. (1993). HIV prevention: An update on the status of methods women can use. Editorial. American Journal of Public Health, 83, 1379–1382.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stein, Z. A. (1994). What was new at Yokohama: Women's voices at the 1994 International AIDS conference. American Journal of Public Health, 84, 1887–1888.

    Google Scholar 

  • Steiner, M., Spruyt, A., Joanis, C., Glover, L., Cordero, M., Alvarado, G., and Onoka, C. (1995). Acceptability of spermicidal film and foaming tablets among women in three countries. International Family Planning Perspectives, 21, 104–107.

    Google Scholar 

  • Steiner, M., Glover, L., Bou-Saada, I., and Piedrahita, C. (1998). Increasing barrier method use among oral contraceptive users at risk of STDs: What approach is best? Sexually Transmitted Disease, 25, 139.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stevens, S. J., Estrada, A., and Estrada, B. D. (1998). HIV, sex and drug risk behavior and behavior change in a national sample of injection drug and crack cocaine using women. In S. J. Stevens, S. Tortu, and S. L. Coyle (Eds.), Women, drug use and HIV infection (pp. 25-47). New York: The Haworth Press, Inc.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stone, A. B., and Hitchcock, P. J. (1994). Vaginal microbicides for preventing the sexual transmission of HIV. AIDS, 8(Suppl. 1): S285-S293.

    Google Scholar 

  • Strauss, A., and Corbin, J. (1990). Basics of qualitative research: grounded theory procedures and techniques. Newbury Park, CA: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tortu, S., Beardsley, M., Deren, S., Williams, M., and McCoy, H. V., Stark, M., Estrada, A., and Goldstein, M. (2000). HIV Infection and patterns of risk among women drug injectors and crack users in low and high sero-prevalence sites. AIDS Care, 12, 65-76

    Google Scholar 

  • Wood, M. M., Tortu, S., Rhodes, F., and Deven, S. (1998). Differences in condom behaviors and beliefs among female drug users recruited in two cities. Women's Health, 27, 137.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Abt Associates Inc., Cambridge, Massachusetts

    Theresa H. Mason, Susan E. Foster & Theodore M. Hammett

  2. Universidad Central del Caribe School of Medicine, Bayamon, Puerto Rico

    H. Ann Finlinson

  3. Centers for Behavioral and Preventive Medicine, Brown Medical School/Miriam Hospital, Providence, Rhode Island

    Kathleen M. Morrow

  4. Department of Anthropology, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island

    Rochelle Rosen

  5. Centers for Behavioral and Preventive Medicine, Miriam Hospital, Providence, Rhode Island)

    Rochelle Rosen

  6. Greater Bridgeport Adolescent Pregnancy Program, Inc., Bridgeport, Connecticut

    Sandra Vining

  7. Family Health International, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina

    Carol L. Joanis

  8. Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts

    George R. Seage III

Authors
  1. Theresa H. Mason
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Susan E. Foster
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. H. Ann Finlinson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Kathleen M. Morrow
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Rochelle Rosen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Sandra Vining
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Carol L. Joanis
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Theodore M. Hammett
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. George R. Seage III
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Theresa H. Mason.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Mason, T.H., Foster, S.E., Finlinson, H.A. et al. Perspectives Related to the Potential Use of Vaginal Microbicides Among Drug-Involved Women: Focus Groups in Three Cities in the United States and Puerto Rico. AIDS Behav 7, 339–351 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1023/B:AIBE.0000004726.61630.96

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/B:AIBE.0000004726.61630.96

Search

Navigation