مرکز منطقه ای اطلاع رساني علوم و فناوري - The awareness and use of the female condom among women at low and high risk for sexually transmitted infections in Ankara, Turkey

Abstract :

Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the levels of awareness on female condom use in Ankara among women having low and high risk for sexually transmitted infections. Materials and methods: This descriptive study was performed between 1 March 2007 and 1 May 2007. High risk group for sexually transmitted infections were sex workers that presented to the Hospital of Venereal Disease (n=186), and the low-risk group was women that applied to a family planning outpatient clinic (n=190). Totally, 376 women completed a questionnaire administered face-to-face. Obtained data were analyzed statistically. Results: The mean age was 40.04±9.33 years, the mean duration of work was 12.32±7.36 year, 42.5% of women had sexually transmitted infections any time of life, mean number of intercourses was 12.30±6.66 per day; 59.8% currently used oral contraceptive, 30.6% male condom, 5.5% tube ligation, 61.3% of women were familiar about female condom, only eight women (4.3%) used in high risk groups. The mean of age of low-risk women was 32.23±8.18 year, 5.8 of women worked out of home, 50.5% of women were graduated primary school, 2.1% of women had sexually transmitted infections any time in life, currently used contraceptives were 29.2% male condom, 28.7% withdrawal, 25.3% intra uterine devices, 18.9% of women were familiar about female condom. In all, 69.4% of the high-risk group and 30.5% of the low risk groups’ women reported that they would use the female condom if counseling concerning its use were provided. Conclusion: Female condom awareness was very low among the studied women. However, if they receive counseling, a half of women can use female condoms.