The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #46399

Nicole Crepaz, PhD¹, Jan Moore¹, Gertrude Khumalo-Sakutukwa, MA², Lisa Loeb, MPH², and Nancy S. Padian, PhD³. (1) Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention - Behavioral Intervention Research Branch, CDC, 1600 Clifton Road, Mailstop E37, Atlanta, GA 30333, 4046396149, ncc9@cdc.gov, (2) University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe, (3) ARI, Dept OB/GYN, UCSF, Box 0886, 74 New Montgomery, Suite 600, San Francisco, CA 94105

There is an increasing international interest in HIV/STD prevention methods that women can use without active participation of their male sex partners. Female-controlled methods may be especially appealing to women with abusive sex partners. This study examined the association between physical abuse (being shoved, hit, slapped, or kicked by current sex partner) and use of female-controlled (female condom, N-9 spermicide being tested as a vaginal microbicide) versus male-controlled methods (male condom) among women in Harare, Zimbabwe. 61women identified as inconsistent condom users (< 75% of sex acts protected by a male condom) from a previous male condom intervention were enrolled in an intervention that offered female condoms and N-9, in addition to male condoms. Method use is reported as the percent of vaginal or anal intercourse in the past 2 weeks protected by each method at the 1-month follow-up. Results show that physically abused women (n=14) reported a significantly higher percentage of sex acts protected by N-9 (56%) than nonabused women (n=47, 25%, t=2.89, p < .01). A reverse pattern was found for use of male condoms (27% for abused; 45% for unabused, t=1.87, p=.07). The two groups did not differ in their reports of female condom use (34% for abused; 26% for unabused). The findings indicate that vaginal microbicides may be a particularly appealing HIV prevention method for abused women. This group of women should be targeted for interventions if and when an effective vaginal microbicide becomes available.

Learning Objectives:

• The audience will be given a perspective on the continuing HIV/AIDS epidemic in Africa that emphasizes the need for providing women, especially for those who have been physically abused by their male sex partners, with alternative prevention methods that women can use without the active participation of their male sex partners.

Keywords: Women and HIV/AIDS, International

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.