Annotation: prevention of HIV, other sexually transmitted diseases, and unwanted pregnancy--testing physical barriers available to women
Stein, Z.; Susser, M.
American Journal of Public Health 88(6): 872-874
1998
ISSN/ISBN: 0090-0036 PMID: 9618610 DOI: 10.2105/ajph.88.6.872Document Number: 274846
Three issues relevant to the evaluation of barrier methods in protecting against STDs are set out. The first issue is the current requirement for testing the prophylactic efficacy (or "method effectiveness") of all types of barriers, excepting solely the male condom. The second issue in trials of barriers concerns the appropriate interventions to be offered to the experimental groups. The third issue is the decision as to the level of intervention, as between individual or group. It is concluded, for the present, that trials might best test programme effect rather than efficacy; that the experimental intervention, to be measured against male condoms in the control group, should offer a choice between a hierarchy of methods; and that the design should encompass the group level rather than solely the individual level.