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Biomedical subjects

Catherine Mathews

Publications and source records attributed to Catherine Mathews.

6 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2002

Condom use and sexual behaviors among individuals procuring free male condoms in South Africa: a prospective study.

BACKGROUND: Although the South African government has increased the number of male condoms distributed free to the public, there is no understanding of whether these are being used effectively to prevent the spread of sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV infection. GOAL: The study goal was to determine sexual behaviors and barriers to condom use among individuals procuring condoms distributed free to the public sector. STUDY DESIGN: In a prospective study, individuals who procured condoms from 12 public health facilities across South Africa were recruited and observed for the next 5 weeks. RESULTS: The 384 successfully observed subjects reported 3262 sexual contacts, of which 2637 (81%) involved protection with a condom. In multivariate analysis, alcohol consumption and use of other contraceptives were associated with unprotected sexual intercourse. CONCLUSION: The levels of condom use are relatively high in this population, but these data highlight several important barriers to condom use that may be targeted by future interventions.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

A systematic review of strategies for partner notification for sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV/AIDS.

This review compares the effects of various sexually transmitted disease (STD) partner-notification strategies. Using review methods endorsed by the Cochrane Collaboration, it updates previous reviews, and addresses some of their methodological limitations. It includes 11 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing two or more strategies, including 8014 participants. Only two trials were conducted in developing countries, and only two trials were conducted among HIV-positive patients. The review found moderately strong evidence that: (1) provider referral alone, or the choice between patient and provider referral, when compared with patient referral among patients with HIV or any STD, increases the rate of partners presenting for medical evaluation; (2) contract referral, when compared with patient referral among patients with gonorrhoea, results in more partners presenting for medical evaluation; (3) verbal, nurse-given health education together with patient-centred counselling by lay workers, when compared with standard care among patients with any STD, results in small increases in the rate of partners treated. The review concludes that there is a need for evaluations of interventions combining provider training and patient education, for evaluations conducted in developing countries, and for the measurement of potential harmful effects.

Contact Tracing↗
PubMed2002

Barriers to accessing free condoms at public health facilities across South Africa.

OBJECTIVES: Lack of access to public sector condoms still presents a fundamental barrier to condom use in most of South Africa. This study investigated the determinants of condom procurement at public health facilities in order to inform improved public sector condom distribution and promotion strategies. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Twelve health facilities in four health regions of South Africa: Boland/Overberg, Empangeni/Jozini, Kimberley, and Pretoria. SUBJECTS: Consecutive individuals procuring condoms and a sample of individuals not procuring condoms were interviewed on their recent sexual behaviour and condom-related knowledge and attitudes. OUTCOME MEASURES: Factors associated with condom procurement. RESULTS: Across all facilities, 554 individuals procuring condoms and a comparison group of 261 individuals not procuring condoms were interviewed. Eighty-three (33%) of those interviewed who were not procuring condoms stated that they would like to do so. Several potential barriers to condom procurement, including female gender and perceived risk of HIV, showed substantially different associations in different study regions. Only two factors, negative partner attitudes towards condoms and the use of other forms of contraception, were consistently associated with a decreased probability of condom procurement across all regions. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that the barriers to condom procurement may vary considerably across South Africa. This heterogeneity suggests that national-level interventions to promote condom procurement and use may be less appropriate than specialised interventions addressing locally relevant factors, including those identified here.

Adolescent↗