The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #39231

Donna McCarraher¹, Maureen Kuyoh², Thomas Grey¹, and Julius Munyao². (1) Health Services Research, Family Health International, P.O. Box 13590, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, 919-544-7040, dmccarraher@fhi.org, (2) FHI/Kenya, Family Health International, P. O. Box 38835, The Chancery, 2nd Floor, Nairobi, Kenya

Background: Research suggests that some women experience intimate partner violence (IPV) as a consequence of using contraception or notifying partners about a sexually transmitted infection (STI). Methods: This study is a follow-up to the 1998-99 Female Condom Community Intervention Trial (FCCIT) designed to introduce the female condom into 12 agricultural plantations. In-depth interviews were conducted in 2001 with 45 women to determine if they experienced IPV as a result of participating in the FCCIT. Participation involved women: a) asking their partners to use a male or female condom; b) being tested for an STI, c) notifying their partners they had an STI, or d) asking their partners to be treated for an STI. Results: None of the women interviewed reported IPV as a result of participating in the trial. Two women did not tell their partners about their FCCIT participation due to fear. During the trial, 35 women used the female condom and 30 used the male condom. Of those who had not used a condom, the majority said they would have tried the condom if the decision had been theirs alone. Women reported that their partners used condoms with “other” women. This made it difficult for some to suggest using condoms with their partners without the potential for conflict. Only eleven women reported that their partners got STI treatment, despite the fact that partner treatment was part of the research protocol. Conclusions: Researchers and program managers must consider how IPV can affect participant’s well-being, condom use, and protocol adherence.

Learning Objectives:

• 1. Recognize that despite intense intervention efforts of the FCCIT, condom use was still associated with unfaithfulness.
• 2. Articulate that IPV may play a role in women’s willing to discuss condom use and STI results with their partners.
• 3. Discuss the implications that IPV has in conducting research and implementing programs
• related to condom use and STI prevention.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.