The efficacy of female condom skills training in HIV risk reduction among women: a randomized controlled trial
Choi, K.-H.; Hoff, C.; Gregorich, S.E.; Grinstead, O.; Gomez, C.; Hussey, W.
American Journal of Public Health 98(10): 1841-1848
2008
ISSN/ISBN: 1541-0048 PMID: 18703460 DOI: 10.2105/ajph.2007.113050Document Number: 202478
We evaluated the efficacy of skills training designed to increase female condom use among women. We conducted a randomized controlled trial of 409 women, recruited from family planning clinics in northern California, who were randomly assigned to the experimental 4-session female condom skills training intervention or the comparison 4-session women's general health promotion intervention. Participants received condom use instructions at baseline and male and female condoms during the study. They completed audio computer-assisted self-interviews at baseline and at 3 and 6 months. At 3 and 6 months, women in the experimental group were more likely than those in the comparison group to have used the female condom at least once in the prior 3 months. The increase in the percentage of sexual acts protected by female condoms from baseline to the 6-month follow-up was greater for the experimental group. The percentage of sexual acts during which any condom was employed was higher in the experimental group at 6 months. There were no group differences in male condom use. Outcomes suggest that skills training can increase female condom use and protected sexual acts without reducing male condom use among women.