Acceptability and use of the female condom and diaphragm among sex workers in Dominican Republic: results from a prospective study
Lara, D.K.; Grossman, D.A.; Muñoz, J.E.; Rosario, S.R.; Gómez, B.J.; García, S.G.
Aids Education and Prevention Official Publication of the International Society for Aids Education 21(6): 538-551
2009
ISSN/ISBN: 1943-2755 PMID: 20030498 DOI: 10.1521/aeap.2009.21.6.538Document Number: 208753
To assess the acceptability and use of the female condom and diaphragm among female sex workers in the Dominican Republic, 243 participants were followed for 5 months. Participants received female and male condoms and a diaphragm along with proper counseling at monthly visits. Seventy-six percent reported used of female condom at least once during the final month of the study, compared with 50% that used the diaphragm with male condoms and 9% that used the diaphragm alone. The proportion of women reporting every sex act protected with some barrier method increased from 66% at first month to 77% at final month (p < 0.05). Participants reported higher acceptability and use of the female condom than the diaphragm. The introduction of female-controlled barrier methods resulted in the use of a wide range of prevention methods and a significant reduction in unprotected sex.