OBJECTIVES: To assess the prevalence of traditional vaginal agent use in Malawian women and its association with HIV infection. METHODS: Consenting, consecutive antenatal women were administered a questionnaire and screened for sexually transmitted diseases (STD) including HIV. RESULTS: Of the 6603 consenting women, 886 (13%) reported using intravaginal agents for tightening and 2222 (34%) for self-treatment of vaginal discharge and itching. A higher proportion of HIV-infected than uninfected women (17% versus 14%) reported use of intravaginal agents for treatment (odds ratio, 1.29; 95% confidence interval, 1.05-1.57), but no difference in HIV status was found when these agents were used for tightening. In multivariate analysis, vaginal agent use for treatment was independently associated with HIV seropositivity. CONCLUSIONS: The association of HIV infection with vaginal agents for self-treatment, but not for tightening, suggests that STD may play a role or that vaginal agents are used differently for the two purposes. In addition to a small increased risk of HIV infection associated with vaginal agent use, these agents may interfere with condom effectiveness or acceptability of vaginal microbicides.
OBJECTIVES: To assess the prevalence of traditional vaginal agent use in Malawian women and its association with HIV infection. METHODS: Consenting, consecutive antenatal women were administered a questionnaire and screened for sexually transmitted diseases (STD) including HIV. RESULTS: Of the 6603 consenting women, 886 (13%) reported using intravaginal agents for tightening and 2222 (34%) for self-treatment of vaginal discharge and itching. A higher proportion of HIV-infected than uninfected women (17% versus 14%) reported use of intravaginal agents for treatment (odds ratio, 1.29; 95% confidence interval, 1.05-1.57), but no difference in HIV status was found when these agents were used for tightening. In multivariate analysis, vaginal agent use for treatment was independently associated with HIV seropositivity. CONCLUSIONS: The association of HIV infection with vaginal agents for self-treatment, but not for tightening, suggests that STD may play a role or that vaginal agents are used differently for the two purposes. In addition to a small increased risk of HIV infection associated with vaginal agent use, these agents may interfere with condom effectiveness or acceptability of vaginal microbicides.
Entities:
Keywords:
Africa; Africa South Of The Sahara; Behavior; Biology; Coitus; Correlation Studies; Delivery Of Health Care; Demographic Factors; Developing Countries; Diseases; Eastern Africa; English Speaking Africa; Health; Health Services; Hiv Infections; Infections; Malawi; Medicine; Medicine, Traditional; Population; Population Characteristics; Pregnant Women; Reproduction; Reproductive Tract Infections; Risk Factors; Sex Behavior; Sexually Transmitted Diseases; Statistical Studies; Studies; Vaginal Abnormalities; Vaginal Injury; Viral Diseases
Authors: Carolyn M Audet; Meridith Blevins; Charlotte Buehler Cherry; Lazaro González-Calvo; Ann F Green; Troy D Moon Journal: Cult Health Sex Date: 2016-12-06
Authors: Abigail Norris Turner; Charles S Morrison; Marshall W Munjoma; Precious Moyo; Tsungai Chipato; Janneke H van de Wijgert Journal: Infect Dis Obstet Gynecol Date: 2010-08-24