Acceptability of Praneem polyherbal vaginal tablet among HIV uninfected women & their male partners in Pune, India--Phase I study.

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: The number of HIV infected women is steadily increasing worldwide and women controlled methods to prevent HIV are urgently needed. Vaginal microbicides are products for vaginal administration that can be used to prevent HIV infection and other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). We conducted a Phase I safety and acceptability study of Praneem polyherbal tablet, a candidate microbicide, among HIV uninfected women in Pune, India. METHODS: Twenty eligible women were requested to use the product intravaginally once daily for 14 consecutive days between menses. Safety was assessed by clinical examination, laboratory monitoring and colposcopy. Acceptability was assessed after 14 days of product use through structured questionnaires, focus group discussions among participating women, and in-depth interviews with a subset of 5 randomly selected male partners. RESULTS: Praneem polyherbal tablet was found acceptable by the study participants with 90 per cent of the participants showing 80 per cent and more acceptability score. Discharge of the product residue was reported as a concern by 6 (30%) of participants. Nineteen (95%) female participants liked the smell and the same number reported that the product was easy to use and did not affect the usual sexual pleasure. However, men reported lack of sexual satisfaction. INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSION: Product characteristics received good acceptability score in women. However, studies of long-term safety and acceptability among at-risk population would provide more detailed information about its long term acceptability.

Patient-led partner referral in a district hospital based STD clinic.

CONTEXT: Sexual communication and appropriate treatment of sexual partners is critical to the success of STD and HIV/AIDS prevention and control. AIMS: To understand factors influencing intention of STD patients to inform their regular sexual partners and identify predictors influencing actual return of the partners. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: A non-randomised survey of patients attending STD clinic in a district hospital between May and November 2000. METHODS AND MATERIAL: 182 patients were administered structured questionnaires to understand their intention to notify their regular sexual partners and encouraged to refer their regular sexual partners to the clinic for management. Factors related to intent to notify partners and actual partner referral were analysed. Statistical analysis used: Chi square test and forward stepwise logistic regression. RESULTS: Of the 182 STD patients 77.47% expressed their positive intention to notify their regular sexual partners. However, overall partner return rate was 40.65%. Patients from a better economic class (p=0.014), those who had sex since having the disease (p=0.001), those who felt it was easy to tell their partners (p=0.047) and perceived the necessity of investigating their partners (p<0.001) were more likely to have an intention to notify their partners. Independent predictors of actual return of sexual partners were patients' perception of partners' susceptibility (p=0.044), positive intention to notify partners (p=0.001), partners already informed before clinic visit (p=0.030) and presence of genital ulcerative diseases (p=0.033). CONCLUSIONS: STD clinic counselling and education should focus on risk reduction, partner susceptibility, role of STDs in HIV transmission and improving spousal communication.