Addressing intravaginal practices in women with HIV and at-risk for HIV infection, a mixed methods pilot study
Maria L Alcaide,1 Violeta J Rodriguez,2 Margaret A Fischl,1 Deborah L Jones,2 Stephen M Weiss2 1Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, 2Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, M...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Dove Medical Press
2017-02-01
|
| Series: | International Journal of Women's Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.dovepress.com/addressing-intravaginal-practices-in-women-with-hiv-and-at-risk-for-hi-peer-reviewed-article-IJWH |
| _version_ | 1818493896755249152 |
|---|---|
| author | Alcaide ML Rodriguez VJ Fischl MA Jones DL Weiss SM |
| author_facet | Alcaide ML Rodriguez VJ Fischl MA Jones DL Weiss SM |
| author_sort | Alcaide ML |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Maria L Alcaide,1 Violeta J Rodriguez,2 Margaret A Fischl,1 Deborah L Jones,2 Stephen M Weiss2 1Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, 2Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA Abstract: Intravaginal practices (IVPs), include intravaginal cleansing (cleansing the inside of the vagina) or intravaginal insertion of products for hygiene, health or sexuality reasons. IVPs are associated with adverse female health outcomes, development of bacterial vaginosis, HIV acquisition and transmission. A mixed methods approach was used in this study to examine the prevalence of IVP, assess reasons for engagement, and perceptions of IVP among a sample of minority (African-American and Hispanic) women infected, or at-risk, for HIV in Miami, USA, a city with increasing numbers of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and HIV. Three focus groups (total n=20) and quantitative assessments (n=72) were conducted with women infected or uninfected with HIV. In the qualitative assessments, most women reported engaging in both intravaginal cleansing and intravaginal insertion, and stated the main motivation for IVP was hygiene. The quantitative assessments confirmed that cleansing with water alone, soap with water or using commercial douches was common, as well as intravaginal insertion using a cloth or a rag in both HIV-infected and uninfected women. Women with HIV infection reported less use of water and water and soap for IVPs, and reported learning about the potential harm of IVP from their HIV health care providers. Despite their health risks, IVP appeared common in both HIV-infected and at-risk minority women, and interventions to decrease IVP could have important health implications among populations with high rates of IVP, STIs and HIV. Keywords: focus groups, HIV, vaginal practices, women, mixed methods |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-10T17:59:48Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ea503e2da3ab41ecaac66cb981b2ab91 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1179-1411 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-10T17:59:48Z |
| publishDate | 2017-02-01 |
| publisher | Dove Medical Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Women's Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-ea503e2da3ab41ecaac66cb981b2ab912022-12-22T01:38:49ZengDove Medical PressInternational Journal of Women's Health1179-14112017-02-01Volume 912313231593Addressing intravaginal practices in women with HIV and at-risk for HIV infection, a mixed methods pilot studyAlcaide MLRodriguez VJFischl MAJones DLWeiss SMMaria L Alcaide,1 Violeta J Rodriguez,2 Margaret A Fischl,1 Deborah L Jones,2 Stephen M Weiss2 1Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, 2Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA Abstract: Intravaginal practices (IVPs), include intravaginal cleansing (cleansing the inside of the vagina) or intravaginal insertion of products for hygiene, health or sexuality reasons. IVPs are associated with adverse female health outcomes, development of bacterial vaginosis, HIV acquisition and transmission. A mixed methods approach was used in this study to examine the prevalence of IVP, assess reasons for engagement, and perceptions of IVP among a sample of minority (African-American and Hispanic) women infected, or at-risk, for HIV in Miami, USA, a city with increasing numbers of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and HIV. Three focus groups (total n=20) and quantitative assessments (n=72) were conducted with women infected or uninfected with HIV. In the qualitative assessments, most women reported engaging in both intravaginal cleansing and intravaginal insertion, and stated the main motivation for IVP was hygiene. The quantitative assessments confirmed that cleansing with water alone, soap with water or using commercial douches was common, as well as intravaginal insertion using a cloth or a rag in both HIV-infected and uninfected women. Women with HIV infection reported less use of water and water and soap for IVPs, and reported learning about the potential harm of IVP from their HIV health care providers. Despite their health risks, IVP appeared common in both HIV-infected and at-risk minority women, and interventions to decrease IVP could have important health implications among populations with high rates of IVP, STIs and HIV. Keywords: focus groups, HIV, vaginal practices, women, mixed methodshttps://www.dovepress.com/addressing-intravaginal-practices-in-women-with-hiv-and-at-risk-for-hi-peer-reviewed-article-IJWHfocus groupsHIVvaginal practiceswomenmixed methods |
| spellingShingle | Alcaide ML Rodriguez VJ Fischl MA Jones DL Weiss SM Addressing intravaginal practices in women with HIV and at-risk for HIV infection, a mixed methods pilot study International Journal of Women's Health focus groups HIV vaginal practices women mixed methods |
| title | Addressing intravaginal practices in women with HIV and at-risk for HIV infection, a mixed methods pilot study |
| title_full | Addressing intravaginal practices in women with HIV and at-risk for HIV infection, a mixed methods pilot study |
| title_fullStr | Addressing intravaginal practices in women with HIV and at-risk for HIV infection, a mixed methods pilot study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Addressing intravaginal practices in women with HIV and at-risk for HIV infection, a mixed methods pilot study |
| title_short | Addressing intravaginal practices in women with HIV and at-risk for HIV infection, a mixed methods pilot study |
| title_sort | addressing intravaginal practices in women with hiv and at risk for hiv infection a mixed methods pilot study |
| topic | focus groups HIV vaginal practices women mixed methods |
| url | https://www.dovepress.com/addressing-intravaginal-practices-in-women-with-hiv-and-at-risk-for-hi-peer-reviewed-article-IJWH |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT alcaideml addressingintravaginalpracticesinwomenwithhivandatriskforhivinfectionamixedmethodspilotstudy AT rodriguezvj addressingintravaginalpracticesinwomenwithhivandatriskforhivinfectionamixedmethodspilotstudy AT fischlma addressingintravaginalpracticesinwomenwithhivandatriskforhivinfectionamixedmethodspilotstudy AT jonesdl addressingintravaginalpracticesinwomenwithhivandatriskforhivinfectionamixedmethodspilotstudy AT weisssm addressingintravaginalpracticesinwomenwithhivandatriskforhivinfectionamixedmethodspilotstudy |