Awareness of female condoms and failures reported with two different types in China. Issue 2 (February 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wang, Xianmi; Xi, Maomao; Zhang, Lifeng; Jia, Lili; Wang, Yan; Cheng, Yimin
• Is Part Of: International journal of gynaecology and obstetrics. Volume 128:Issue 2(2015:Feb.)
• Page Start: 152
• Page End: 156
• Publication Date: 2015-02
• Subjects: Gynecology -- Periodicals; Obstetrics -- Periodicals; Electronic journals; 618
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijgo.2014.08.017
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0020-7292

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="author" id="ab0005"> <title id="st0005">Abstract</title> <sec> <title id="st0010">Objective</title> <p id="sp0005">To explore knowledge and use of female condoms in China, and to compare four modes of failure between the Phoenurse female condom (PFC) and the second-generation Femidom female condom (FC2).</p> </sec> <sec> <title id="st0015">Methods</title> <p id="sp0010">In a randomized, crossover trial, sexually active women aged 20–49 years who attended a family planning service in Qingdao, China, were recruited between April and October, 2013. A computer-generated randomized sequence was used to assign participants (1:1) to group A (used 10 PFCs followed by 10 FC2s) or group B (used 10 FC2s followed by 10 PFCs). Study investigators and participants were masked to allocation. Participants completed questionnaires at baseline and after using the two types of FCs. They also kept coital logs.</p> </sec> <sec> <title id="st0020">Results</title> <p id="sp0015">At baseline, 30 (10.3%) of 290 participants understood female condoms, but only 1 (0.3%) had ever used one. Total failure rates were 3.6% (420/11 578) and 2.3% (265/11 594) for PFC and FC2, respectively (<italic>P</italic> < 0.001). Slippage was the most common form of failure, affecting 6.9% of PFC uses and 5.0% of FC2 uses. Breakage, misdirection, and slippage were significantly more common with the PFC than with the FC2 (<italic>P</italic> ≤ 0.002).</p> </sec> <sec> <title id="st0025">Conclusion</title> <p id="sp0020">Understanding of female condoms is poor in China. Failure is more common with the PFC than with the FC2.</p> </sec> </abstract>