‘It’s not good to eat a candy in a wrapper’: male students’ perspectives on condom use and concurrent sexual partnerships in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo

This paper reports on fieldwork carried out in 2011 with aim to investigate young men’s perspectives about condoms use, concurrent sexual partnerships and sex in the context of HIV/AIDS. This study employed a qualitative approach to collect data from 28 boys aged 16–20 from two urban and two rural high schools in South Kivu province. Four focus group discussions and 20 individual interviews were conducted among them. The findings showed that most students identified condoms as unsafe and untrustworthy. Reasons given for the mistrust of condoms were related to the belief that condoms do not give enough protection from Sexually Transmitted Infections, HIV and pregnancies. Most participants believe that condoms have a ‘small hole’ or are unreliable and are therefore not effective in prevention. They also mentioned that condoms encourage inappropriate sexual activity. They prefer flesh-to-flesh sex rather than protected sex using a condom. However, a few participants acknowledged the importance of condom use. Despite the risk of HIV transmission, boys believe that it is appropriate for them to have concurrent sexual partnerships. They justified the concurrent sexual partnerships as a way of ensuring that they cannot miss a girl to satisfy their sexual desire. Given the boys’ failure to use condoms and their strong inclination to concurrent sexual partnerships, there is a need for heath groups and stakeholders within the area to increase awareness about condoms’ effectiveness and improve knowledge dissemination on Sexually Transmitted Diseases and how they are prevented.     

Interrupción voluntaria del embarazo y uso de métodos anticonceptivos en mujeres que ejercen la prostitución en Almería

ObjectiveTo analyze the performance of induced abortion (IA) in prostitutes in Almería (Spain) and its association with the use of contraceptive methods.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted in 110 women. A bivariate analyses using either the χ² test or Fisher's exact test was carried out (significance level <0.05), with calculation of odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals.ResultsA total of 52.7% of women had undergone at least one IA. All of these women used condoms and 35.5% of them also used another contraceptive method. No statistically significant association was found between condom breakage and the performance of IA or in the use of other contraceptive methods.ConclusionsA high percentage of this group of women had undergone IA, despite widespread condom use. However, there was a high percentage of condom breakage and a low percentage of use of emergency contraceptive pills after risky sexual relationships.     

Condoms are not a risk factor for sensitization to latex

The study was conducted to assess the prevalence of sensitization to latex in a group of women with a high risk for atopy and to determine whether the use of condoms is a relevant risk factor. In a prospective study, 100 atopic women (defined as having specific IgE to common aero- or nutritional allergens) were screened for specific IgE antibodies to latex after delivery: Ten of the 100 women (10%) showed specific IgE to latex. Total IgE concentrations were higher with a history of occupational exposure or of symptoms after contact with latex (p < 0.05, and p < 0.005, respectively), but condom users were not significantly more frequent in the latex-positive group. Our results indicate that prior use of condoms does not appear to be a specific risk factor for sensitization to latex in post-partum women at high-risk for atopy. Latex-free condoms should only be recommended to women already known to be sensitized to latex.     

Prevalence survey on condom use and infection of urogenital mycoplasmas in female sex workers in China

GOAL: We evaluated the prevalence of condom use and the effects of condom use on urogenital mycoplasma infection in female sex workers in Jinjiang, China. METHODS: Two-hundred ninety-nine female sex workers from Jinjiang city, Jiangsu Province, were interviewed, and three mycoplasmas of Ureaplasma urealyticum (Uu), Mycoplasma hominis (Mh) and Mycoplasma genitalium (Mg) were detected by nested polymerase chain reaction in genital secretions of 72 female sex workers and 42 female patients seen with symptoms of genital infection (control group). RESULTS: The results showed that 87.29% of the sex workers used condom in their last sexual intercourse, and that 2.68% did not use, 38.80% sometimes used and 58.52% used condoms every time in the last month. Those who were older, married and have a stable partnership used condoms less frequently. The infection rates of Uu, Mh and Mg were 77.78%, 34.72% and 16.67%, respectively, in sex worker subjects compared to those of controls at 59.52%, 9.62% and 21.43%, respectively. The infection rates of Uu and Mg were lower among all subjects (NS) who used condoms every time. In this observational study, genital mycoplasma infection was common and occurred more frequently among sex workers, and infection occurred less often when condoms were used. These results tend to support the efficacy of condom use in reducing urogenital mycoplasma infection among Chinese women.     

Nonlatex vs. latex male condoms for contraception: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials

This systematic review sought to evaluate nonlatex male condoms in comparison with latex condoms in terms of contraceptive efficacy, breakage, slippage, safety and user preferences. We searched computerized databases and contacted manufactures and investigators to find randomized controlled trials of nonlatex vs. latex male condoms. Two reviewers independently abstracted data from the 10 identified trials. While the eZ. on condom did not protect against pregnancy as well as its latex comparison condom, no differences were found in typical-use efficacy between the Avanti and the Standard Tactylon and their latex counterparts. Nonlatex condoms were associated with higher rates of clinical breakage than their latex comparisons, with statistically significant odds ratios of clinical breakage ranging from 2.6 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.6-4.3) to 5.0 (95% CI: 3.6-6.8). Few adverse events were reported. Substantial proportions of participants reported preferences for the nonlatex condoms. Despite higher rates of clinical breakage, nonlatex condoms still provide an acceptable alternative for those with allergies, sensitivities or preferences that might prevent the consistent use of latex condoms. The contraceptive efficacy of nonlatex condoms requires more research.     

A Longitudinal Study of Adolescents with Perinatally or Transfusion Acquired HIV Infection: Sexual Knowledge,Risk Reduction Self-efficacy and Sexual Behavior

As HIV-positive children are surviving to adolescence and beyond, understanding their HIV knowledge and sexual behavior is critical. Forty HIV+ adolescents/young adults were interviewed twice, approximately 21 months apart (mean age 16.6 and 18.3 years, respectively). Data on demographics, safer sex knowledge, sexual risk behaviors, risk reduction self-efficacy, and Tanner stage were collected. Twenty-eight percent of HIV+ youth at Time 1 and 41% at Time 2 reported being sexually active. HIV transmission/safer sex knowledge was low, increased with age, and both self-efficacy for and actual condom use was relatively high. Secondary prevention messages should be incorporated into routine medical settings.     

Issues in the design, analysis and interpretation of condom functionality studies

Background

Male condom functionality studies are typically crossover trials in which enrolled couples use both experimental and latex control condoms for sexual intercourse. Noninferiority of the experimental type is assessed using confidence intervals for differences in breakage and slippage probabilities. Seemingly straightforward, the design, analysis and interpretation of functionality studies are complicated by the choice of noninferiority criterion, study population and the potential for learning effects.

Methods

Power calculations, secondary data analyses and simulations were used to illustrate concerns and make recommendations.

Results

The probability of failure can be too low to draw meaningful conclusions in certain population subgroups. Learning effects among inexperienced users can exaggerate differences in performance and undermine power. A product which is, on average, inferior to latex may still be a viable prophylactic for a large percentage of couples.

Conclusions

Heterogeneity of failure probabilities, combined with small acceptable differences in performance, requires care when selecting study participants. Pilot data, adequate training on condom use and reasonable expectations regarding performance of a new condom type are essential to maximizing the chance of identifying a noninferior product.     

对《天然胶乳橡胶避孕套》中爆破体积和压力项目检验的分析

天然胶乳橡胶避孕套已列为国家食品药品监督管理局重点医疗器械监管的对象,有力的监管将会大大减少或遏制如艾滋病、梅毒等性传染疾病的传播和蔓延以及对实行计划生育也起到了一定的作用,为人民群众的用械安全有效起到保障作用。2007年我们针对辖区内的生产、经营厂家进行了专项监督抽验,针对爆破体积和压力项目进行了分析,为进一步提高产品质量提供技术信息,对规范市场起到一定的促进作用。