Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

Affordable, acceptable and effective female controlled options are required worldwide for prevention of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and other sexually transmitted diseases. We carried out a comparative acceptability study of Reality and Reddy (version 4) female condoms.

METHODS:

Sixty eligible couples were enrolled and randomly assigned to use either Reality or Reddy condom first. They used three Reality condoms and three Reddy condoms each with at least one condom use per week.

RESULTS:

Reddy female condom had a significantly better acceptability than Reality condom among women who were less educated and who had not used male condom before. In spite of higher acceptability score, participants were less confident about the Reddy condom for protecting them from HIV disease or pregnancy as compared to a male condom.

CONCLUSIONS:

Female condoms are being introduced in India. This study has generated data that is suggestive of optimism for this female controlled option.