Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “Vaginal Barrier Methods”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 631 records · Page 35Linked to original sources
PubMed2003

Correlates of African American college students' condom use to prevent pregnancy, STDs, or both outcomes.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of the current study was to compare African American college students who reported condom use for pregnancy prevention only, disease prevention only, and both pregnancy and STD prevention (i.e., dual prevention) in terms of their AIDS-related health beliefs, conventional sexual behavior, and unconventional sexual behavior. It was hypothesized that dual-prevention adolescents would express more health protective attitudes and behaviors than single-prevention individuals. METHOD: The sample consisted of 171 African American, undergraduate, single, heterosexual, and sexually active students with at least one partner in the past six months and who used condoms. A self-report questionnaire was administered-including items related to demographic and background information, sexual activity, condom use behavior, and knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs about HIV/AIDS, to participants in groups of 10-30 students in university classroom settings. RESULTS: The main between-group differences were in comparisons of pregnancy-prevention-only condom users and dual-prevention condom users. Participants who used condoms to prevent pregnancy only were less likely to be female, perceived themselves to be less susceptible to HIV/AIDS, perceived fewer barriers to condom use, and reported fewer vaginal sex partners. CONCLUSIONS: Intervention programs must address the relation between African American adolescents' beliefs about susceptibility to HIV/AIDS and unintended pregnancy, as well as their views of involvement in monogamous relationships. Integrated prevention services may allow for discussions of similarities and differences in the issues relevant to condom use for pregnancy prevention versus disease prevention.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1995

Reproductive tract infections and abortion among adolescent girls in rural Nigeria.

Few studies from developing countries have investigated reproductive tract infections or other indicators of sexual health among unmarried adolescent girls in rural areas. We have obtained baseline demographic, clinical, and microbiological data on reproductive tract infections and induced abortion in girls in a rural area of southeast Nigeria, in order to assess the need for health care for adolescents. 868 females attended for interview and examination: 458 aged 20 and above and 410 aged 12-19, the latter representing 93.4%of the adolescent population. 43.6% of those < 17 and 80.1% aged 17-19 years were sexually active and at least 24.1% had undergone an induced abortion; only 5.3% had ever used a modern contraceptive. Vaginal discharge was reported by 82.4%, though few sought treatment. 94.1% of sexually active adolescents and 97.6% of sexually active women 20 years old or over were gynaecologically examined and screened for reproductive tract infections. Of those aged less than 17, 19.8% had symptomatic candida and 11.1% trichomonas infections. Among those aged 17-19 years, chlamydia was detected in 10.5%, and symptomatic candidosis in 25.6%; this was the group most likely to have any infection (43.8%). 42.1% of sexually active adolescents had experienced either an abortion or a sexually transmitted disease. Syphilis was the only infection for which the incidence clearly increased with age. Health-care services for adolescents in this community are needed and should include sex education, contraceptive provision (especially barrier methods), and access to treatment for reproductive tract infections. Investments in health for this age group will have an effect on subsequent reproductive health.

Abortion, Induced↗
PubMed2005

Maternal-fetal microtransfusions and HIV-1 mother-to-child transmission in Malawi.

BACKGROUND: Between 25% and 35% of infants born to HIV-infected mothers become HIV-1 infected. One potential route of mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) could be through a breakdown in the placental barrier (i.e., maternal-fetal microtransfusions). METHODS AND FINDINGS: Placental alkaline phosphatase (PLAP) is a 130-kD maternal enzyme that cannot cross the intact placental barrier. We measured PLAP activity in umbilical vein serum as an indicator of maternal-fetal microtransfusion, and related this to the risk of HIV-1 MTCT. A case-cohort study was conducted of 149 women randomly selected from a cohort of HIV-1-infected pregnant Malawians; these women served as a reference group for 36 cases of in utero MTCT and 43 cases of intrapartum (IP) MTCT. Cord PLAP activity was measured with an immunocatalytic assay. Infant HIV status was determined by real-time PCR. The association between cord PLAP activity and HIV-1 MTCT was measured with logistic regression using generalized estimating equations. Among vaginal deliveries, PLAP was associated with IP MTCT (risk ratio, 2.25 per log10 ng/ml PLAP; 95% confidence interval, 0.95-5.32) but not in utero MTCT. In a multivariable model adjusted for HIV-1 RNA load, chorioamnionitis, and self-reported fever, the risk of IP MTCT almost tripled for every log10 increase in cord PLAP activity (risk ratio, 2.87; 95% confidence interval, 1.05-7.83). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that during vaginal deliveries, placental microtransfusions are a risk factor for IP HIV-1 MTCT. Future studies are needed to identify factors that increase the risk for microtransfusions in order to prevent IP HIV-1 MTCT.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

The sexual practices of Asian and Pacific Islander high school students.

PURPOSE: To describe the sexual behaviors, beliefs, and attitudes of Asian and Pacific Islander California high school students and to compare them to other racial/ethnic groups. METHODS: Data were collected from an anonymous self-administered survey of 2026 ninth to 12th graders in a Los Angeles County school district; 186 of the respondents described themselves as Asian and Pacific Islander. The survey was conducted in April 1992. RESULTS: A higher percentage of Asian and Pacific Islander adolescents (73%) compared with African-American (28%, p < .001), Latino (43%, p < .001), white (50%, p < .001), and other (48%, p < .001) adolescents had never had vaginal intercourse. Asian and Pacific Islander adolescents were less likely than other adolescents to report having engaged in heterosexual genital sexual activities during the prior year, including masturbation of or by a partner, fellatio with ejaculation, cunnilingus, and anal intercourse. Few students in any group reported homosexual genital sexual activities. Asians and Pacific Islanders who had had vaginal intercourse were more likely than most other groups to have used a condom at first vaginal intercourse, but Asians and Pacific Islanders had not used condoms more consistently over the prior year. Asians and Pacific Islanders were more likely to expect parental disapproval if they had vaginal intercourse and less likely to think that their peers had had vaginal intercourse. CONCLUSIONS: Asian and Pacific Islander high school students in one California school district appear to be at lower sexual risk than other racial/ethnic groups. However, a large minority are engaging in activities that can transmit disease and lead to unwanted pregnancy. Therefore, current efforts to develop culturally sensitive clinical and community-based approaches to sexual risk prevention should include Asians and Pacific Islanders.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1981

Application of marketing principles to improve participation in public health program.

The application of marketing principles to develop a program aimed at increasing participation in a cervical screening program appears to be more effective than the use of sales techniques. Standard methods of promotion such as posters, direct mail, and flyers were generally ineffective. Direct personal contact produced the majority of program participants, and mass media approaches also resulted in significant participant response. A consumer orientation led to development of effective program features designed to satisfy specific consumer needs. Use of female health practitioners, for example, reduced cultural barriers to participation and insured adequate screening in Mexican-American populations.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Health beliefs and Pap smears among Thai women in Brisbane, Australia.

Although a number of studies have assessed the use of Pap smear among Thai women in Thailand, little is known about factors influencing the use of this cervical cancer screening among potentially high risk Thai migrant women. We related health belief model (HBM) factors and sociodemographic variables to the use of Pap smears among migrant Thai women in Brisbane, Australia. A cross-sectional study was conducted in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. A snowball sampling method was used to recruit 145 women. Thirty-nine percent reported regular Pap smears. Summary HBM index and self-efficacy index were positively associated with Pap smears. Barriers to screening were negatively associated. The HBM appears to be a useful framework for planning cervical cancer prevention. Strategies that reduce barriers to the screening and increase the confidence of women and their self-efficacy are likely to increase their participation.

Cross-Sectional Studies↗
PubMed1989

Heterosexuals at risk for HIV: differences between private and commercial partners in sexual behaviour and condom use.

To study the prevalence of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), sexual behaviour and condom use among heterosexuals, 193 women and 157 men entered a longitudinal study. Participants were recruited through an STD clinic, and had had five or more heterosexual partners in the preceding 6 months but had no other AIDS risk factors. Participants were divided in groups with respect to private and/or commercial sexual partners. One hundred and thirty-six (71%) women worked as prostitutes and had, on average, 115 customers a month, and 99 (63%) men had visited, on the average, eight prostitutes in the past 4 months. One hundred and seventy-one (89%) women (114 prostitutes) had had, on average, four partners, and 112 (78%) men (of whom 64 had visited prostitutes) had had, on average, seven private partners in the past 4 months. Vaginal intercourse was often or always reported by all participants whilst anal contact was seldom reported. Non-high-risk sexual techniques (for example, oro-oral, masturbation) were practised more frequently with private than with commercial partners (P less than 0.001). Although no differences were found in the frequency of practising high-risk sexual techniques (for example, vaginal, ano-genital), differences were found for frequency of condom use. Condom use during vaginal intercourse was reported more frequently with commercial than with private partners (P less than 0.01). However, if the number of partners is taken into account, prostitutes had unprotected vaginal intercourse with an estimated average number of 160 partners in 4 months, which is far more than customers (seven) and men and women with private partners only (four).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1997

An actual use comparison of condoms meeting Australian and Swiss standards: results of a double-blind crossover trial.

The performance of condoms in actual use has been poorly researched in the past, especially in comparing condoms that met different quality control standards as indicated by laboratory testing. The present study used a double-blind crossover design to compare the performance of 2 types of condoms in actual use; one that met the Australian and International Organization for Standardization (ISO) standards for condom quality and one that met the more stringent Swiss Quality Seal requirements. Ninety-two men recruited from Metropolitan Melbourne completed a self-report diary sheet after each condom was used which assessed the performance of the condom and the conditions under which it was used. From a total of 1917 condom uses, there was an overall breakage risk of 2.7%. The breakage risk ratio (Australian/ISO:Swiss) for all types of use was 1.16 (95% confidence interval 0.68-1.99). When subanalyses by method of entry were performed, the condoms meeting the Swiss standard appeared to fare better than the Australian/ ISO standards for anal sex (RR = 4.84, 95% CI 1.07-21.8, P = 0.022), while the opposite was the case for vaginal sex (RR = 0.74, 95% CI 0.35-1.53, P = 0.41). The result for anal use was statistically significant at the 5% level, despite being based on fewer condom trials than that for vaginal use, but this result needs to be replicated. Although the participants appeared representative of the general male population in Melbourne in the age bracket 18-46 years, there was a significant history of condom usage reported. This may have influenced the risk of breakage.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

HIV infection and associated risk factors in female prostitutes in Kinshasa, Zaire.

In Africa, female prostitutes represent a high risk group for HIV infection. In Kinshasa, Zaire, 101 (27%) out of 377 prostitutes were seropositive to HIV by ELISA and Western blot determination. Seropositivity was significantly associated with the number of lifetime partners with a median number of 600 partners, four seropositives and 338 for seronegative individuals (P = 0.02). Seropositivity was also significantly associated with a history of taking oral medications for the prevention of sexually transmitted diseases and/or pregnancy (odds ratio = 2.21, confidence interval = 1.2-4.2), and with the introduction of any product into the vagina for hygiene or other purposes (odds ratio = 2.3, confidence interval = 1.1-4.7). In addition, among 85 prostitutes reporting condom use by their sexual partners during the previous year, the use of condoms by 50% or more of partners was associated with a reduced risk of HIV seropositivity (P = 0.046). An increased risk of HIV seropositivity was not associated with fellatio, anal intercourse, or with any type of kissing. Twenty-nine per cent of prostitutes reported at least one symptom suggestive of HIV infection, and seropositivity was associated with weight loss, either with or without chronic diarrhea or pruritic dermatitis. These data confirm that African prostitutes are at high risk for HIV infection and that the number of lifetime sexual partners, and factors which interfere with the integrity of the vaginal or cervical mucosa, may be associated with an increased risk of HIV infection acquired through heterosexual contact.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1982

Fertility following discontinuation of different methods of fertility control.

The possibility of permanent sterility following use of modern contraceptive agents is a concept which causes great concern amongst members of the lay public. However, a thorough review of the literature gives a great deal of reassurance on this topic. The combined oral contraceptive pill causes slight delay, and the injectable contraceptives a moderate delay in the return of fertility following discontinuation, but there is no evidence of a greater likelihood of permanent infertility than in the normal population. The progestogen-only minipill should be risk-free, but final data are lacking. Epidemiological studies do not indicate an increased risk of infertility following IUD use, but it seems likely that there must be a very small number of IUD users who develop permanent infective damage to the Fallopian tubes. Barrier methods and periodic abstinence probably do not have any significant effect on subsequent fertility. Barrier methods could be protective. Therapeutic abortion may have a small deleterious effect on long-term reproductive success, but the data are inconclusive. Detailed information on fertility following use of other methods is not available.

Abortion, Induced↗
PubMed1997

Data complement anti-STD activity of PRO 2000 gel. Contraceptives.

Procept, Cambridge, Massachusetts, announced preclinical results demonstrating the contraceptive efficacy of its PRO 2000 topical microbicide gel. In a program of late-breaking discoveries presented at the National Conference on Women and HIV, held in Pasadena, California, Procept scientists described the results of studies recently conducted with PRO 2000. The in vitro results showed that PRO 2000 was contraceptive when rabbits were dosed intravaginally with a gel containing a 4% concentration of PRO 2000. At a concentration about 10 times lower, PRO 2000 did not appear to affect the rabbit pregnancy rate. Results of preclinical tests have indicated that both concentrations prevent HIV infection, suggesting that contraceptive and noncontraceptive formulations of this drug may be developed. "The potential of this compound as an advancement in the area of women's health is significant," said Stanley C. Erck, Procept. "We believe that the contraceptive properties demonstrated by PRO 2000 Gel will complement the anti-HIV/STD activity we will be evaluating in clinical trials." "More than 70% of all HIV infections worldwide follow heterosexual intercourse. A major problem confounding efforts to prevent AIDS in women has been the lack of effective, female-controlled barrier methods. PRO 2000 Gel has been identified as a topical microbicide well suited for use by women to prevent HIV infection. In laboratory studies, PRO 2000 blocked infection by a wide variety of HIV strains and also was active against herpes simplex virus." Clinical studies currently are underway to assess the safety of PRO 2000 Gel in healthy female volunteers. Assuming the results of these studies are positive, additional studies will be conducted to demonstrate safety and efficacy in populations at high risk for HIV infection.

Americas↗
PubMed2000

Factors associated with condom use for oral sex among female brothel-based sex workers in Singapore.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The prevalence of oral sex increased from 27.1% in 1992 to 81.1% in 1997, with a concomitant increase in pharyngeal gonorrhea, among female sex workers in Singapore. The extent of condom use for oral sex among them is unknown. GOAL: To determine the prevalence of and factors associated with consistent condom use during oral sex. STUDY DESIGN: A cross-sectional study of 225 women randomly selected from the surveillance scheme register of female brothel-based sex workers with a history of oral sex documented in their medical records. RESULTS: Slightly more than half (56.9%) consistently used condoms for oral sex compared to 97% for vaginal sex. Condom use was significantly higher among middle than high class sex workers (adjusted rate ratio: 1.52, 95% CI: 1.01-2.29) and those with negotiation skills (adjusted rate ratio: 1.95, 95% CI: 1.32-2.07). CONCLUSION: Sex workers should be taught skills to negotiate condom use for oral sex.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Initiation of prenatal care by low-income Hispanic women in Houston.

OBJECTIVE: To understand why many Hispanic women begin prenatal care in the later stages of pregnancy. METHODS: The authors compared the demographic profile, insurance status, and health beliefs--including the perceived benefits of and barriers to initiating prenatal care--of low-income Hispanic women who initiated prenatal care at different times during pregnancy or received no prenatal care. RESULTS: A perception of many barriers to care was associated with later initiation of care and non-use of care. Perceiving more benefits of care for the baby was associated with earlier initiation of care, as was having an eligibility card for hospital district services. Several barriers to care were mentioned by women on open-ended questioning, including long waiting times, embarrassment the physical examination, and lack of transportation. CONCLUSIONS: Recommendations for practice included decreasing the number of visits for women at low risk for poor pregnancy outcomes while increasing the time spent with the provider at each visit, decreasing the number of vaginal examinations for low risk women, increasing the use of midwives, training lay workers to do risk assessment, emphasizing specific messages about benefits to the baby, and increasing general health motivation to seek preventive care through community interventions.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2002

Restricted entry of IgG into male and female rabbit reproductive ducts following immunization with recombinant rabbit PH-20.

PROBLEM: Successful immunocontraception using sperm antigens is dependent on achieving sufficient sperm-specific antibody in the reproductive ducts to prevent fertilization. The blood: luminal barrier of the male and female reproductive ducts must be overcome for this to occur. We have, therefore, investigated the relative titers of antigen-specific immunoglobulin G (IgG) in luminal fluids collected from male and female rabbit reproductive ducts following immunization with recombinant rabbit PH-20 (rPH-20). METHOD OF STUDY: Male and female rabbits were immunized subcutaneously with rPH-20 in Freund's adjuvant. Reproductive tract fluids and plasma were collected and assayed for specific IgG by enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay (ELISA). Plasma anti-rPH-20 antibodies were tested for their ability to inhibit in vitro fertilization. RESULTS: Plasma rPH-20-specific IgG titers of > 21 x 106 were induced in bucks. Antibody levels in the rete testis and cauda epididymidis fluids were only 0.026 and 0.168% of plasma levels, respectively. Plasma IgG titers were > 30 x 10(6) in does, but antibody levels in free flow vaginal fluid, free flow uterine fluid and free flow oviduct fluid were only 0.016, 0.078 and 0.072% of plasma levels, respectively. Induction of ovulation by administration of human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) significantly increased rPH-20-specific IgG only in free flow vaginal fluids. Plasma antibody from immunized rabbits inhibited in vitro fertilization but conception rates following mating of rPH-20 immunized male to untreated female rabbits were not affected. CONCLUSIONS: The IgG antibody entry into the reproductive ducts of both male and female rabbits is restricted to less than 0.2% of levels induced in plasma following subcutaneous immunization. This finding raises doubts about the suitability of rPH-20 to induce immunocontraception in rabbits using strategies optimized for induction of a serum antibody response. Whether mucosal immunization strategies can achieve this remains to be tested.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Self-reports of HIV risk factors by patients at a sexually transmitted disease clinic: audio vs written questionnaires.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to determine how the method of assessment affects patient report of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) risks. METHODS: Patients at a sexually transmitted disease clinic randomly received either a written self-administered questionnaire or an audio self-administered questionnaire delivered by cassette player and headset. These questionnaires were followed by face-to-face interviews. RESULTS: Audio questionnaires had fewer missing responses than written questionnaires. Audio questionnaires also identified more unprotected vaginal intercourse and sexual partners suspected or known to have HIV infection or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome than did written questionnaires. Although both the audio and written questionnaires identified more risks than the face-to-face interviews, the difference in the mean number of reported risks between the audio questionnaires and the face-to-face interviews was greater than that between the written questionnaires and the face-to-face interviews. CONCLUSIONS: Audio questionnaires may obtain more complete data and identify more HIV risk than written questionnaires. Research is warranted about whether audio questionnaires overcome barriers to the completion and accuracy of HIV risk surveys. This study emphasizes the need to elucidate the relative strengths and weaknesses of written questionnaires, audio questionnaires, and face-to-face interviews for HIV risk assessment.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

Estimating cycle pregnancy probability with incomplete data in contraceptive studies.

In studies on the effectiveness of barrier method contraceptives, researchers need to estimate the risk of pregnancy during consistent use of these methods. However, participants may not use assigned methods consistently, and only consistent-use cycles are included in the estimates. Inconsistent-use cycles are considered missing intervals, and a subject's early discontinuation from the study or pregnancy during inconsistent use is censored from the analysis. In this article, we consider a semiparametric maximum likelihood approach to estimate survival probability for grouped survival data with missing and censored data. The method is flexible in that it is nonparametric with respect to the underlying survival function, yet it can be easily extended to accommodate the covariates in a parametric way. Results from our simulation study show that the proposed method works well in practical sample sizes. Our findings support the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) sample size requirements for contraceptive studies. We use data from an effectiveness trial on vaginal contraceptive film (VCF) to illustrate the proposed methods.

Clinical Trials as Topic↗
PubMed1992

The sexual behaviour of bisexual men in relation to HIV transmission.

Relatively little is known about the behaviour of bisexual men which may help in assessing their role in HIV transmission. A sample of 60 behaviourally bisexual men were asked about their sexual behaviour with male and female partners and their perceptions of risk of HIV infection. Only a minority of men engaged in unprotected anal sex with their male partners while two thirds had unprotected vaginal sex with their female partners. This asymmetrical pattern of sexual behaviour reflects a differential perception of risk of HIV infection with male and female partners. A quarter of the men had unprotected penetrative sex with both male and female partners in the previous year. The pattern of risk behaviour varied amongst men living in gay, heterosexual or bisexual contexts.

Adult↗