Condom use during a community intervention trial in Kenya

We conducted a cluster-randomized community intervention trial at Kenyan ag ricultural sites to measure the impact of female condom introduction on sex ually transmitted infection (STI) prevalence. We present male and female co ndom use data here. Six Intervention sites received a community risk-reduct ion campaign and distribution of female condoms and male condoms, while 6 C ontrol sites received the same campaign with male condoms only. Male and fe male condom distribution increased throughout follow-up. Self-reported male condom use increased substantially during follow-up to over 60% of the par ticipants. The proportion of consistent male condom users at Control sites was higher than at Intervention sites, 23% vs 14% at 6 months and 24% vs 22 % at 12 months. At Intervention sites, 11% and 7% of women used the female condoms all the time at 6 and 12 months, respectively, while the percentage of female condom non-users grew. Male and female condom use was hindered b y male partner objections; suspicion of the study and the devices among res idents; and bias against condoms by clinic service providers. A large propo rtion of coital acts remained unprotected during the trial. Our female cond om intervention did not reduce STI prevalence, compared with male condom pr omotion only.