Journal article
Intravaginal practices among female sex workers in Kibera, Kenya
Sexually transmitted infections, Vol.86(4), pp.318-322
08/01/2010
DOI: 10.1136/sti.2009.040345
PMID: 20410077
Abstract
ObjectivesTo assess vaginal cleansing and lubricant use among female sex workers (FSW) in Kenya participating in a 6-month, prospective study of the acceptability of the use of the diaphragm.MethodsThe study is based on 140 FSW in Nairobi, who completed 140 baseline visits and 390 bi-monthly follow-up visits. Participants were instructed to wear the diaphragm for all coital acts during follow-up and to refrain from vaginal cleansing while wearing the diaphragm. Logistic regression was used to identify predictors of recent vaginal cleansing to ‘tighten’ the vagina reported at baseline; recent vaginal cleansing to prevent infection reported at baseline; recent vaginal cleansing with the diaphragm in place reported during follow-up; and recent use of oil-based lubricant during coitus reported at baseline.ResultsAt baseline, 99% of women reported vaginal cleansing in the previous 2 weeks for purposes of hygiene or to remove evidence of past coitus. Approximately 41% of women also reported cleansing in the past 2 weeks to ‘tighten’ the vagina. Women reported vaginal cleansing with the diaphragm in place in the past 2 weeks at 14% of follow-up visits in which the diaphragm was used. Predictors of such cleansing included young age, 6-month study visit, being divorced or widowed and higher educational level.ConclusionsWhile vaginal cleansing is a modifiable behaviour, given that cleansing for hygiene was almost universal among this study population at baseline and that more women reported cleansing while wearing the diaphragm as the study progressed, the complete eradication of the practice would probably be difficult.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Intravaginal practices among female sex workers in Kibera, Kenya
- Creators
- Maria F Gallo - National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health PromotionAnjali Sharma - Kenya Medical Research InstituteElizabeth A Bukusi - Kenya Medical Research InstituteBetty Njoroge - Kenya Medical Research InstituteRosemary Nguti - University of NairobiDenise J Jamieson - National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health PromotionApril J Bell - National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health PromotionDavid A Eschenbach - University of Washington
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Sexually transmitted infections, Vol.86(4), pp.318-322
- DOI
- 10.1136/sti.2009.040345
- PMID
- 20410077
- ISSN
- 1368-4973
- eISSN
- 1472-3263
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 08/01/2010
- Academic Unit
- Obstetrics and Gynecology; VPMA - Administration
- Record Identifier
- 9984446066802771
Metrics
3 Record Views