Small group skills training increases female condom use
- El-Bassel, Associate Professor Nabila
BACKGROUND
In the United States, women make up about two-thirds of reported sexually transmitted disease cases. Low income and ethnic minority groups are at greatest risk. The male condom reduces the risk of sexually transmitted diseases, but is not always used consistently. The female condom may also reduce the risk of disease transmission when the manufacturer's instructions are correctly followed.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the effect of a behavioural training intervention on use of the female condom.
SETTING
New York, Baltimore and Washington; May 1995 to August 1997.
METHOD
Randomised controlled trial.
PARTICIPANTS
Six hundred and four HIV-negative women at high risk of sexually transmitted disease. 'High risk' factors included one of the following in the past year: three or more partners, intravenous drug use, sexually transmitted disease or sex with a high-risk male. Results were limited to the 442 women who reported sexual activity in the 3 month follow-up period.
INTERVENTION
One hour healthy eating video (control) or six weekly small group training sessions including education, motivation and behavioural skills.
OUTCOMES
Use and intended future use of the female condom; attitudes towards condom use.
MAIN RESULTS
Compared to controls, those in the training group reported greater use of the female condom at 3 months follow-up (Table 1). Women who received training also had more positive attitudes towards female condom use.
AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS
Weekly skills training may increase positive attitudes towards the female condom, insertion skills and female condom use.
NOTES
There may be self-selection bias: recruitment used flyers, newspaper advertisements and community presentations. The control and training groups had interventions of different duration.