Vaginal practices among women at risk for HIV acquisition in Soweto, South Africa
Background: Vaginal practices (VP) may adversely affect normal vaginal flora and mucosal integrity, and increase acquisition risk of HIV and other genital tract infections. Objective: The aim of this study was to describe self-reported VP, changes in the reported number of VP over time and factors...
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doaj-29498c9d0cd14cce9149b1b882b6e6d72020-11-25T00:17:28ZengAOSISSouthern African Journal of HIV Medicine1608-96932078-67512019-06-01201e1e710.4102/sajhivmed.v20i1.866626Vaginal practices among women at risk for HIV acquisition in Soweto, South AfricaErica Lazarus0Kennedy Otwombe1Janan Dietrich2Michele P. Andrasik3Cecilia A. Morgan4James G. Kublin5Glenda E. Gray6Abby J. Isaacs7Fatima Laher8Perinatal HIV Research Unit, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, JohannesburgPerinatal HIV Research Unit, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, JohannesburgPerinatal HIV Research Unit, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, JohannesburgHIV Vaccine Trials Network, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, SeattleHIV Vaccine Trials Network, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, SeattleHIV Vaccine Trials Network, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, SeattlePerinatal HIV Research Unit, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; and, HIV Vaccine Trials Network, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, United States; and, South African Medical Research Council, Cape TownStatistical Center for HIV/AIDS Research and Prevention, SeattlePerinatal HIV Research Unit, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, JohannesburgBackground: Vaginal practices (VP) may adversely affect normal vaginal flora and mucosal integrity, and increase acquisition risk of HIV and other genital tract infections. Objective: The aim of this study was to describe self-reported VP, changes in the reported number of VP over time and factors associated with VP in a cohort of young Sowetan women enrolled in the HVTN 915 observational study. Method: We longitudinally assessed self-reported VP in 50 young women at risk of HIV acquisition aged 18–25 years in a prospective study over 3 months in Soweto, South Africa. Interviewer-administered HIV behavioural risk questionnaires were completed. No intervention to reduce VP was specified per protocol, but clinicians provided education at their discretion. The generalised estimating equation with inverse probability weights assessed VP over time. Results: The mean age at screening was 22 years; women reported multiple sexual partnerships with a mean of one main and 2 casual partners in the last 30 days. Consistent condom use was 2% (n = 1), 25% (n = 12) and 43% (n = 3) with main, casual and new partners, respectively. Commonly reported VP included washing the vagina with water (44%) and using fingers (48%). VP decreased significantly over time (p < 0.001). Women who used condoms inconsistently or whose last sex was with a casual partner were 3 times more likely to report VP (p = 0.001). Conclusion: Despite the high incidence of HIV in our setting, VP are still common and are associated with other behavioural risks for HIV. Further study is needed to assess whether clinician education may reduce VP and therefore should be included in HIV risk reduction counselling.https://sajhivmed.org.za/index.php/hivmed/article/view/866Vaginal hygieneVaginal practicesHIV riskYoung womenSowetoSouth Africa |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Erica Lazarus Kennedy Otwombe Janan Dietrich Michele P. Andrasik Cecilia A. Morgan James G. Kublin Glenda E. Gray Abby J. Isaacs Fatima Laher |
spellingShingle |
Erica Lazarus Kennedy Otwombe Janan Dietrich Michele P. Andrasik Cecilia A. Morgan James G. Kublin Glenda E. Gray Abby J. Isaacs Fatima Laher Vaginal practices among women at risk for HIV acquisition in Soweto, South Africa Southern African Journal of HIV Medicine Vaginal hygiene Vaginal practices HIV risk Young women Soweto South Africa |
author_facet |
Erica Lazarus Kennedy Otwombe Janan Dietrich Michele P. Andrasik Cecilia A. Morgan James G. Kublin Glenda E. Gray Abby J. Isaacs Fatima Laher |
author_sort |
Erica Lazarus |
title |
Vaginal practices among women at risk for HIV acquisition in Soweto, South Africa |
title_short |
Vaginal practices among women at risk for HIV acquisition in Soweto, South Africa |
title_full |
Vaginal practices among women at risk for HIV acquisition in Soweto, South Africa |
title_fullStr |
Vaginal practices among women at risk for HIV acquisition in Soweto, South Africa |
title_full_unstemmed |
Vaginal practices among women at risk for HIV acquisition in Soweto, South Africa |
title_sort |
vaginal practices among women at risk for hiv acquisition in soweto, south africa |
publisher |
AOSIS |
series |
Southern African Journal of HIV Medicine |
issn |
1608-9693 2078-6751 |
publishDate |
2019-06-01 |
description |
Background: Vaginal practices (VP) may adversely affect normal vaginal flora and mucosal integrity, and increase acquisition risk of HIV and other genital tract infections.
Objective: The aim of this study was to describe self-reported VP, changes in the reported number of VP over time and factors associated with VP in a cohort of young Sowetan women enrolled in the HVTN 915 observational study.
Method: We longitudinally assessed self-reported VP in 50 young women at risk of HIV acquisition aged 18–25 years in a prospective study over 3 months in Soweto, South Africa. Interviewer-administered HIV behavioural risk questionnaires were completed. No intervention to reduce VP was specified per protocol, but clinicians provided education at their discretion. The generalised estimating equation with inverse probability weights assessed VP over time.
Results: The mean age at screening was 22 years; women reported multiple sexual partnerships with a mean of one main and 2 casual partners in the last 30 days. Consistent condom use was 2% (n = 1), 25% (n = 12) and 43% (n = 3) with main, casual and new partners, respectively. Commonly reported VP included washing the vagina with water (44%) and using fingers (48%). VP decreased significantly over time (p < 0.001). Women who used condoms inconsistently or whose last sex was with a casual partner were 3 times more likely to report VP (p = 0.001).
Conclusion: Despite the high incidence of HIV in our setting, VP are still common and are associated with other behavioural risks for HIV. Further study is needed to assess whether clinician education may reduce VP and therefore should be included in HIV risk reduction counselling. |
topic |
Vaginal hygiene Vaginal practices HIV risk Young women Soweto South Africa |
url |
https://sajhivmed.org.za/index.php/hivmed/article/view/866 |
work_keys_str_mv |
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