Traditional vaginal agents: use and association with HIV infection in Malawian women.

Abstract

OBJECTIVES:

To assess the prevalence of traditional vaginal agent use in Malawian women and its association with HIV infection.

METHODS:

Consenting, consecutive antenatal women were administered a questionnaire and screened for sexually transmitted diseases (STD) including HIV.

RESULTS:

Of the 6603 consenting women, 886 (13%) reported using intravaginal agents for tightening and 2222 (34%) for self-treatment of vaginal discharge and itching. A higher proportion of HIV-infected than uninfected women (17% versus 14%) reported use of intravaginal agents for treatment (odds ratio, 1.29; 95% confidence interval, 1.05-1.57), but no difference in HIV status was found when these agents were used for tightening. In multivariate analysis, vaginal agent use for treatment was independently associated with HIV seropositivity.

CONCLUSIONS:

The association of HIV infection with vaginal agents for self-treatment, but not for tightening, suggests that STD may play a role or that vaginal agents are used differently for the two purposes. In addition to a small increased risk of HIV infection associated with vaginal agent use, these agents may interfere with condom effectiveness or acceptability of vaginal microbicides.

• Authors: G A Dallabetta, P G Miotti, J D Chiphangwi, G Liomba, J K Canner, A J Saah
• Journal: AIDS (London, England) (AIDS) Vol. 9 Issue 3 Pg. 293-7 (Mar 1995) ISSN: 0269-9370 [Print] England
• PMID: 7755919 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.)

Chemical References

• Antifungal Agents

Topics

• Administration, Intravaginal
• Adult
• Antifungal Agents (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Female
• HIV Infections (epidemiology)
• Humans
• Logistic Models
• Malawi (epidemiology)
• Prevalence
• Risk Factors
• Sexual Behavior
• Sexually Transmitted Diseases (epidemiology)
• Surveys and Questionnaires
• Vagina
• Vaginitis (drug therapy)