Preaching to the choir: Preference for female-controlled methods of HIV and sexually transmitted disease prevention

Objectives. This study assessed interest in female-controlled methods of HIV and sexually transmitted disease (STD) prevention. Methods. Surveys were conducted with 168 African American women, aged 18 to 32 years, who had had unprotected sex and at least 3 sexual partners in the last 2 years. Results. Of 44 potential features, "female control" (where women control the method by either wearing or applying it) ranked 22nd in average importance. Women who rated female control as highly important had fewer sex partners and fewer STDs and were more likely to use existing prevention methods frequently. Conclusions. Female control may be of less interest to women most at risk for HIV and other STDs. This underscores the need to take the priorities and preferences of women into consideration when developing new prevention methods.