scholarly journals Using human-centred design to develop an innovative female condom

2021 ◽  
pp. bmjinnov-2020-000534
Author(s):  
Patricia S Coffey ◽  
Maggie Kilbourne-Brook
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Health ◽  
Second Generation ◽  
Female Condom ◽  
Barrier Method ◽  
Sexually Transmitted ◽  
Dual Protection ◽  
The Usa ◽  
Female Condoms ◽  
Generation Female ◽  
Human Centred Design

ObjectiveThe female condom is a non-hormonal barrier method that can protect from unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections such as HIV. Female condoms are an important contribution to women’s reproductive health globally as they are the only woman-initiated method currently available that can provide dual protection. This article describes how human-centred design (HCD) was applied to the development of the Woman’s Condom—a second-generation female condom.MethodsA multidisciplinary team pioneered the application of HCD principles to develop a novel reproductive health product. The Woman’s Condom design incorporated feedback from both female and male users from multiple sites in the USA and Cuernavaca, Mexico; Durban, South Africa and Khon Kaen, Thailand to inform product development.ResultsWe developed and tested more than 50 design iterations reflecting various solutions to user-related concerns. The final locked design confirmed that the Woman’s Condom was easy to use, stable, comfortable and provided satisfactory sensation during sex for both partners. The ‘dissolving capsule’ to facilitate insertion and ‘soft cling’ design are key innovative features of the Woman’s Condom.ConclusionThe Woman’s Condom is a second-generation female (or internal) condom product that has been shown to be highly acceptable to users throughout the world. The Woman’s Condom’s special design features enable easy insertion, secure fit during use, good sensation and easy removal. Engaging users as codesigners through an HCD approach resulted in a female condom that meets the needs of women and men from diverse regions.

scholarly journals Short-Term Acceptability of the Woman’s Condom among Married Couples in Shanghai

2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Junqing Wu ◽  
Zirong Huang ◽  
Patricia S. Coffey ◽  
Maggie Kilbourne-Brook
Keyword(s):  
User Experience ◽  
Second Generation ◽  
Married Couples ◽  
Female Condom ◽  
Outer Ring ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Dual Protection ◽  
The Future ◽  
Protection Profile ◽  
Generation Female

Background. The Woman’s Condom, a second-generation female condom designed for acceptability, is poised for introduction in China. Method. This single-arm study was conducted among 60 couples in China in 2010 to assess acceptability of the Woman’s Condom. Results. Male participants reported that ease of handling, inserting, and removing the device improved significantly from first to fourth use. Female and male participants reported that comfort during insertion, feel of lubricant during insertion, comfort/fit of outer ring during use, and overall comfort improved significantly from first to fourth use. Further, at fourth use, female participants reported significant improvement in the comfort of the feel of the condom material and lubricant. Female and male participants reported that satisfaction with stability and sensation during sex and ability to achieve orgasm improved significantly from first to fourth use. At fourth use, female participants reported statistically significant improvement in sensation compared to using nothing. A majority of participants (78%) stated that they would use the Woman’s Condom in the future, primarily due to its dual protection profile. Conclusion. This study has shown that, in China, the Woman’s Condom appears to be acceptable to married couples. User experience contributes to improvement in many aspects of device acceptability.

scholarly journals A review of the effectiveness and acceptability of the female condom for dual protection

Sexual Health ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 18 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria F. Gallo ◽  
Maggie Kilbourne-Brook ◽  
Patricia S. Coffey
Keyword(s):  
Unintended Pregnancy ◽  
Biological Markers ◽  
Comparative Research ◽  
Female Condom ◽  
Published Data ◽  
Dual Protection ◽  
Sexually Transmissible Infections ◽  
Female Condoms ◽  
And Biological Markers

The female condom remains the sole female-initiated method of dual protection against unintended pregnancy and sexually transmissible infections (STIs), including HIV. We reviewed published data on the effectiveness and acceptability of the female condom for protection against pregnancy and infection. Overall, use of the female condom is low and several barriers hinder the wider adoption of the use of the method. Research on effectiveness has focussed on pregnancy, STIs and biological markers of semen exposure. Although the data available suggest that female condoms (or a mixture of female and male condoms) may provide similar degrees of protection against pregnancy and STIs as do latex male condoms alone, this conclusion has not been demonstrated and thus comparative research is urgently needed.

scholarly journals Female condom acceptability in urban India: Examining the role of sexual pleasure

2017 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 218-228 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jessamyn Bowling ◽  
Brian Dodge ◽  
Nyamat Bindra ◽  
Bhaktiben Dave ◽  
Ritika Sharma ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Structural Changes ◽  
Female Condom ◽  
Sexual Pleasure ◽  
New Delhi ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Sexually Transmitted ◽  
Individual Interviews ◽  
Urban India ◽  
Female Condoms

This qualitative study examined the acceptability of female condoms in urban India, with a focus on sexual pleasure. We conducted focus group discussions with 50 women and 19 men, as well as a small number of individual interviews with women ( n = 3), in Chennai and New Delhi. Perceived benefits of female condoms included protection against unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections, increased sense of empowerment for women, and simple clean up. The most common drawback was reduced sensation. Participants suggested structural changes to the female condom to ease insertion and use. Consent and privacy were discussed as increasing sexual pleasure. Pleasure should be acknowledged in design and education efforts to increase female condom use.

scholarly journals Acceptability of the female condom after a social marketing campaign in Campinas, Brazil

2001 ◽  
Author(s):  
Keyword(s):  
Social Marketing ◽  
Sex Workers ◽  
Unwanted Pregnancy ◽  
Female Condom ◽  
Vulnerable Groups ◽  
Sexually Transmitted ◽  
Social Marketing Campaign ◽  
Health Clinics ◽  
Female Condoms

The female condom is a relatively new product that is intended to serve the dual role of protecting against unwanted pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Recent research has found moderate to high levels of initial trial and acceptance of the female condom among women. However, information is lacking about its continued use, particularly among women at high risk of HIV and other STIs. The female condom was registered in Brazil in January 1997 and since then has been available commercially through DKT, a social marketing organization. In addition to socially marketed female condoms, the Brazilian Ministry of Health has also given female condoms to public health clinics and community organizations to distribute free as part of activities targeted to vulnerable groups of women. This brief summarizes the findings from a study that examined the role of the female condom as a method of protection against HIV/STIs among female sex workers in Campinas, Brazil, who received increased access to the product and information about it through an educational and social marketing intervention.

scholarly journals Representações sociais de discentes sobre o preservativo feminino

2018 ◽  
Vol 12 (10) ◽  
pp. 2759
Author(s):  
Alexia Aline Da Silva Moraes ◽  
Cleuma Sueli Santos Suto ◽  
Jones Sidnei Barbosa de Oliveira ◽  
Carle Porcino ◽  
Sérgio Corrêa Marques ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High School Students ◽  
Public Schools ◽  
Unplanned Pregnancy ◽  
Social Representations ◽  
Female Condom ◽  
School Students ◽  
Sexually Transmitted ◽  
Public School Students ◽  
The Social ◽  
Female Condoms

RESUMO Objetivo: identificar as representações sociais de discentes de escolas públicas sobre o preservativo feminino. Método: trata-se de estudo qualitativo, exploratório e descritivo, apoiado na Teoria das Representações Sociais, com 94 estudantes do ensino médio de escolas públicas, utilizou-se a Técnica de Associação Livre de Palavras com o termo indutor “preservativo feminino”, a análise dos dados deu-se por meio do software de análise textual IRAMUTEQ que originou uma figura de similitudes e a nuvem de palavras. Resultados: as discentes representaram o preservativo feminino como possibilidade de “sexo seguro” e importante tecnologia que favorece a autonomia, a prevenção, a proteção de infecções sexualmente transmissíveis e da gravidez não planejada, mas a ausência de familiaridade com o método e as relações de gênero foram identificadas como fatores que dificultam a utilização. Conclusão: constatou-se que o preservativo feminino é importante para ‘prevenção de doenças e proteção contra a gravidez’, isso implica no processo teórico prático acerca da importância da educação em saúde e aumento da adesão do preservativo feminino nas relações sexuais. Descritores: Estudantes; Preservativo Feminino; Sexualidade; Saúde da Mulher; Teoria Social; Educação em Saúde. ABSTRACT Objective: to identify the social representations of public school students about the female condom. Method: a qualitative, exploratory and descriptive study supported by the Theory of Social Representations, with 94 high school students from public schools, the Free Speech Association technique was used with the term "female condom". Data analysis was done through the IRAMUTEQ textual analysis software that originated a figure of similarities and the word cloud. Results: the students represented the female condom as a possibility of "safe sex" and an important technology that favors autonomy, prevention, protection from sexually transmitted infections and unplanned pregnancy, but lack of familiarity with the method and relations of gender identified as factors that make it difficult to use. Conclusion: it was found that the female condom is important for 'prevention of diseases and protection against pregnancy', this implies in the practical theoretical process about the importance of health education and increase of female condom adherence in sexual relations. Descriptors: Students; Female Condoms; Sexuality; Women’s Health; Social theory; Health Education.RESUMEN Objetivo: identificar las representaciones sociales de los discentes de escuelas públicas sobre el preservativo femenino. Método: se trata de un estudio cualitativo, exploratorio y descriptivo, apoyado en la Teoría de las Representaciones Sociales, con 94 estudiantes de la enseñanza media de escuelas públicas, se utilizó la Técnica de Asociación Libre de Palabras con el término inductor "preservativo femenino", el análisis de los datos se dio a través del software de análisis textual IRAMUTEQ que originó una figura de similitudes y la nube de palabras. Resultados: los discentes representaron el preservativo femenino como posibilidad de "sexo seguro" e importante tecnología que favorece la autonomía, la prevención, la protección de infecciones sexualmente transmisibles y del embarazo no planificado, pero la ausencia de familiaridad con el método y las relaciones de género fueron identificadas como factores que dificultan la utilización. Conclusión: se constató que el preservativo femenino es importante para la prevención de enfermedades y protección contra el embarazo, lo que implica en el proceso teórico práctico acerca de la importancia de la educación en salud y aumento de la adhesión del preservativo femenino en las relaciones sexuales. Descriptores: Estudiantes; Preservativo Femenino; La sexualidad; Salud de la Mujer; Teoría Social; Educación en Salud.

Temporal trends in sexually transmitted infection prevalence and condom use following introduction of the female condom to Madagascar sex workers

2007 ◽  
Vol 18 (7) ◽  
pp. 461-466 ◽  
Author(s):  
T H Hoke ◽  
P J Feldblum ◽  
K Van Damme ◽  
M D Nasution ◽  
T W Grey ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Condom Use ◽  
Sex Workers ◽  
Temporal Trends ◽  
Female Condom ◽  
Infection Prevalence ◽  
Transmitted Infection ◽  
Condom Distribution ◽  
Male Condom ◽  
Sexually Transmitted ◽  
Female Condoms

We followed 1000 sex workers in Madagascar for 18 months to assess whether adding female condoms to male condom distribution led to increased protection levels and decreased sexually transmitted infections (STIs). For months 1–6, participants had access to male condoms only; in the final 12 months, they had access to male and female condoms. We interviewed participants about condom use every two months and tested for chlamydia, gonorrhoea and trichomoniasis every six months. Following six months of male condom distribution, participants used protection in 78% of sex acts with clients. Following female condom introduction, protection at months 12 and 18 rose to 83% and 88%, respectively. Aggregate STI prevalence declined from 52% at baseline to 50% at month 6. With the female condom added, STI prevalence dropped to 41% and 40% at months 12 and 18, respectively. We conclude female condom introduction is associated with increased use of protection to levels that reduce STI risk.

scholarly journals Contraceptive Acceptability of Female Condom: A Prospective Study

2015 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 10-14
Author(s):  
Meenakshi Kanwar Bharadwaj
Keyword(s):  
Prospective Study ◽  
South Asian ◽  
Unwanted Pregnancy ◽  
Female Condom ◽  
Health Programs ◽  
Sexually Transmitted ◽  
Immunodeficiency Virus ◽  
Women And Girls ◽  
Female Condoms ◽  
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.

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