Contraceptive Acceptability of Female Condom: A Prospective Study

Abstract

Background Female condom is the only available method that women and girls can initiate and, in some ways, control, that protects against both unwanted pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections. In this regard, it is an important supplement to the male condom. Materials and methods One-hundred women between the age of 18 and 40 years attending the gynecology OPD and needing any temporary method of contrception were recruited into the study for 6 months. Only women willing to participate in the study were recruited. Results In the study, of the 100 women, only 17 women had heard about sexually transmitted diseases (STD) and/or human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and that use of male or female condoms can prevent their transmission. Seventy-eight percent of women continued with the use of female condoms. Of them, 83% women reported that they were satisfied by the use of female condoms and they would continue to use them if they were easily available. The satisfaction of the male partners was observed in 79% of them. When both partners were taken together, female condoms were satisfying to 78% of both. Conclusion The female condom is an important temporary method of female contraception which also protects from and HIV. It is a method that empowers women; hence, it must be integrated in reproductive health programs to save the lives of millions of women and men now. How to cite this article Bharadwaj MK. Contraceptive Acceptability of Female Condom: A Prospective Study. J South Asian Feder Obst Gynae 2015;7(1):10-14.

Barriers and Enablers Influencing Women's Adoption and Continuation of Vaginally Inserted Contraceptive Methods: A Literature Review

“…Receiving a recommendation from a provider, friend, or family member was an important enabler for method adoption, particularly for the female condom, copper IUD, and hormonal IUD (Harris and Angel 2020;Nanda et al 2018;Gottert et al 2015;Azmat et al 2012;Boller et al 2018;Gedeon et al 2015;Eva et al 2018;FHI360 and Family Health Options Kenya 2016, 360;Danna et al 2019;POW PDP 2015). As expected, user satisfaction with a chosen method was linked to the continuation of most methods (RamaRao et al 2018;Miller et al 2018;Nanda et al 2018;Somesh Kumar et al 2014;Ting, Wong, and Tnay 2018;Agot et al 2019;Minnis et al 2018;Ndegwa et al 2014;Eva et al 2018;Kakaire et al 2016;Azmat et al 2012;FHI 360, SFH Nigeria, and PSI 2020a;Blumenthal et al 2016;Scavuzzi, Souza, and Amorim 2016;Van Dijk et al 2013;Santibenchakul and Jaisamrarn 2016;Sodje et al 2016;Wanyenze et al 2011;Bharadwaj 2015;Pandit et al 2014;Joanis et al 2011;Dam et al 2015;Radwan et al 2019;Park, Nguyen, and Ngo 2011;Ezegwui et al 2013;Wu et al 2019;Moagi, Snyman, and Makin 2019;Das et al 2016).…”

“…2018; Van Dijk et al. 2013; Mathenjwa and Maharaj 2012; Bharadwaj 2015) were benefits that supported continuation. Unlike the findings for other vaginally inserted methods, a lack of side effects was not a theme that appeared frequently in the literature for this method.…”

“…Other enablers for adoption were the dual protection female condoms provide against both pregnancy and STIs/HIV (Miller et al 2018;Schuyler et al 2016;POW PDP 2015;Mokgetse and Ramukumba 2018;Van Dijk et al 2013;Mahlalela and Maharaj 2015;Mathenjwa and Maharaj 2012;Wang et al 2015;Naidu 2013;Coffey et al 2013) and an increased ability to negotiate use with partners due to the woman-controlled nature of the method (Miller et al 2018;Schuyler et al 2016;Van Dijk et al 2013;Martin et al 2016;Mathenjwa and Maharaj 2012;Gomez et al 2018). Sexual satisfaction during use by both the user (POW PDP 2015; Bowling et al 2018;Mathenjwa and Maharaj 2012) and the partner (POW PDP 2015; Beksinska et al 2019;Bowling et al 2018;Van Dijk et al 2013;Mathenjwa and Maharaj 2012;Bharadwaj 2015) were benefits that supported continuation. Unlike the findings for other vaginally inserted methods, a lack of side effects was not a theme that appeared frequently in the literature for this method.…”

“…Partner sexual satisfaction and support were also commonly cited as enablers for method continuation. Findings about sexual satisfaction ranged from not detecting the method during sex (e.g., the diaphragm, vaginal ring) to feeling like the method enhanced the sexual experience (e.g., using a female instead of a male condom) (POW PDP 2015; Mathenjwa and Maharaj 2012;Van Dijk et al 2013;Beksinska et al 2019;Bowling et al 2018;Minnis et al 2018;Bharadwaj 2015;Pandit et al 2014;Sahin-Hodoglugil et al 2011;. According to the literature, partners' supportive attitudes toward a method also contributed to women's method continuation (Somesh Kumar et al 2014;Bryant et al 2015;Pandit et al 2014;Wanyenze et al 2011;Soni, Garg, and Bangar 2013;Malik et al 2014;Mantell et al 2020).…”

“…Concerns for both women (RamaRao et al 2018;Shapiro 2016;Huber-Krum et al 2019;Callahan et al 2019;FHI 360 2017;Van Der Straten et al 2010;FHI 360 2014;Kyamwanga et al 2014;POW PDP 2015;Coffey et al 2013;Bharadwaj 2015;Dam et al 2015;Park, Nguyen, and Ngo 2011;Das et al 2016;Khatri et al 2019;Bulto, Zewdie, and Beyen 2014;Dereje, Engida, and Holland 2020;Monji Builu and Naidoo 2015;Khan and Shaikh 2013) and their partners (Shapiro 2016;Gottert et al 2015;Huber-Krum et al 2019;Agot et al 2019;Van Der Straten et al 2010;Kyamwanga et al 2014;POW PDP 2015;Dam et al 2015;Das et al 2016;X. Wang, Liu, and Cheng 2016;Bulto, Zewdie, and Beyen 2014;Dereje, Engida, and Holland 2020;Khan and Shaikh 2013;Landolt et al 2013) around sexual satisfaction were mainly focused on methods interfering with sexual activity or pleasure.…”