Microbicide trials for preventing HIV/Aids in South Africa

The Microbicide Division of the Department of Medical Microbiology at MEDUNSA, South Africa, recently completed a phase II expanded safety trial of the candidate microbicide Carraguard. A microbicide is a vaginal product that women might use, if proven safe and effective, to protect themselves from HIV and possibly other sexually transmitted infections (STIs). The study participants were from Ga-Rankuwa and its neighbouring areas, an historically disadvantaged residential township near Pretoria. We conducted six focus group discussions with phase II trial participants to evaluate their experiences with trial participation and their psychological needs. Participants spontaneously talked about their experiences with the study gel and speculum examinations. They felt that they had received high quality medical care. They indicated that their personal hygiene and knowledge of the female reproductive system, HIV and other STIs had improved, which helped their familie and empowered them as women. Participants valued being able to discuss their anxiety about HIV/AIDS wit study staff. They felt that the study provided them with a supportive environment in which their personal problems (not necessarily restricted to HIV/AIDS) could be addressed. Some recommended that the study staf improve their professionalism and punctuality. They suggested the formation of participant support groups, an expressed a preference to remain involved in the trial. Some participants appeared to have become dependent o services provided during the trial. We have taken the results of these focus group discussions into account during planning for a phase III efficacy trial of Carraguard to be conducted in the same and other similar communities

Environmental health · Family medicine · Focus group · Microbicide · Microbicides for sexually transmitted diseases · Population · Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health · Focus Groups and Qualitative Methods · HIV/AIDS Research and Interventions · Medicine

• Male engagement in women's microbicide use in Kenya

  Sidney Ruth Schuler, Elizabeth A Bukusi et al.•Health Care For Women International•2017

  Incluir item

• Trial participation disclosure and gel use behavior in the Caprisa 004 tenofovir gel trial

  Stacey Succop, Stacey M Succop et al.•AIDS Care•2014

  Incluir item

• Challenges in Microbicide Trial Design and Implementation

  Open Access•Janneke Van De Wijgert, Heidi E Jones et al.•Studies in Family Planning•2006

  Incluir item

• Lubrication and Vaginal Sex

  Open Access•Cecilia Milford, Mags Beksinska et al.•Archives of Sexual Behavior•2020

  Incluir item

• Challenges to microbicide introduction in South Africa

  Open Access•Phyllis Orner, John Harries et al.•Social Science & Medicine•2006

  Incluir item

• Ethical challenges in efficacy trials of vaginal microbicides for HIV prevention

  Isabelle De Zoysa, Christopher Elias et al.•American Journal of Public Health•1998

  Incluir item

• "Why don't they just tell me straight, why allocate it?" The struggle to make sense of participating in a randomised controlled trial

  Open Access•Katie Featherstone, Jenny L Donovan et al.•Social Science & Medicine•2002

  Incluir item

• Men's attitudes towards a potential vaginal microbicide in Zimbabwe, Mexico and the USA

  Christiana Coggins, Kelly Blanchard et al.•Reproductive Health Matters•2000

  Incluir item