We Have Our Protector”

Misperceptions of Protection Against HIV Among Participants in a Microbicide Efficacy Trial

Bibliographic Data

ID11028812
AuthorsJoanne E Mantell (0000-0002-0748-5974, Joanne E. Mantell is with the HIV Center for Clinical and Behavioral Studies, New York State Psychiatric Institute and Columbia University, New York, NY. Neetha S. Morar and Gita Ramjee are with the Medical Research Council, HIV Prevention Research Unit, Durban, South Africa. Landon Myer is with the Infectious Diseases Epidemiology Unit, School of Public Health and Family Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa, and the Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health,...), Neetha S Morar (Joanne E. Mantell is with the HIV Center for Clinical and Behavioral Studies, New York State Psychiatric Institute and Columbia University, New York, NY. Neetha S. Morar and Gita Ramjee are with the Medical Research Council, HIV Prevention Research Unit, Durban, South Africa. Landon Myer is with the Infectious Diseases Epidemiology Unit, School of Public Health and Family Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa, and the Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health,...), Landon Myers (0000-0002-8106-7658, South African Medical Research Council), Landon Myer (Joanne E. Mantell is with the HIV Center for Clinical and Behavioral Studies, New York State Psychiatric Institute and Columbia University, New York, NY. Neetha S. Morar and Gita Ramjee are with the Medical Research Council, HIV Prevention Research Unit, Durban, South Africa. Landon Myer is with the Infectious Diseases Epidemiology Unit, School of Public Health and Family Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa, and the Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health,...), Gita Ramjee (Joanne E. Mantell is with the HIV Center for Clinical and Behavioral Studies, New York State Psychiatric Institute and Columbia University, New York, NY. Neetha S. Morar and Gita Ramjee are with the Medical Research Council, HIV Prevention Research Unit, Durban, South Africa. Landon Myer is with the Infectious Diseases Epidemiology Unit, School of Public Health and Family Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa, and the Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health,...)
Year2006
Volume96
Issue6
Pages1073-1077
Publication date2006-06-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueAmerican Journal of Public Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0090-0036 • E-ISSN: 1541-0048
PublisherAmerican Public Health Association (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.2105/ajph.2004.047514
PMID16670239
PMCIDPMC1470621
OpenAlexW2085515122
LanguageEN
Citations received12
References cited15

Objectives. We examined perceptions of the effectiveness and acceptability of a candidate microbicide among 94 South African female sex workers who had participated in a phase 3 microbicide trial for HIV prevention. Methods. Sixteen focus groups were conducted in 2001, 12 to 15 months after participants were informed that the candidate microbicide had been determined to be ineffective in preventing HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Results. Participants clearly indicated that they understood the experimental nature of the candidate microbicide, and they recognized that they had been informed after the trial that the product was ineffective. Nevertheless, most continued to believe that the candidate microbicide helped prevent HIV and other STIs, alleviated reproductive tract pain and STI symptoms, and helped to clean the vagina. Conclusions. These findings underscore the importance of understanding women’s perceptions of the efficacy of candidate microbicides and the rationale for these beliefs. These issues need to be addressed in counseling throughout microbicide trials for HIV prevention. These results also demonstrate how desperate many women at high risk of HIV infection may be for new HIV prevention technologies

Clinical trial · Environmental health · Family medicine · Gynecology · Health services · Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) · Men who have sex with men · Microbicide · Microbicides for sexually transmitted diseases · Population · Pre-exposure prophylaxis · Syphilis · Vaginal microbicide · Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health · Internal Medicine · Medicine · Reproductive tract infections research · Sex work and related issues