ACCEPTABILITY OF THE FEMALE CONDOM AMONG STD CLINIC PATIENTS

This study examines the acceptability of the female condom among Afric an American and Latino patients from two inner-city sexually transmitt ed disease (STD) clinics through focus group discussions. Prior to the initial focus group sessions, 90% (n = 90) had heard about the female condom, 8% (n = 8) had seen it, and 2% (n = 2) had used it. Among the 41 participants (22 males and 19 females) attending a second focus gr oup session, 85.4% (n = 35) had used the female condom at least once. Female study participants who had previous experience inserting a barr ier contraceptive device, such as a diaphragm, indicated that they fel t more comfortable inserting the female condom than those who had neve r used such a device. Male participants indicated that they were more comfortable using the female condom with their steady partners than wi th casual partners, whereas female participants indicated no such dist inctions. These and other study findings suggest the need to promote a nd expand the use of the female condom as a device that protects women from STD transmissions including HIV and AIDS.