Preaching to the choir: Preference for female-controlled methods of HIV and sexually transmitted disease prevention

Objectives. This study assessed interest in female-controlled methods of HI V and sexually transmitted disease (STD) prevention. Methods. Surveys were conducted with 168 African American women, aged 18 to 32 years, who had had unprotected sex and at least 3 sexual partners in th e last 2 years. Results. Of 44 potential features, "female control" (where women control th e method by either wearing or applying it) ranked 22nd in average importanc e. Women who rated female control as highly important had fewer sex partner s and fewer STDs and were more likely to use existing prevention methods fr equently. Conclusions. Female control may be of less interest to women most at risk f or HIV and other STDs. This underscores the need to take the priorities and preferences of women into consideration when developing new prevention met hods.