Conhecimento e promoção do uso do preservativo feminino por profissionais de unidades de referência para DST/HIV de Fortaleza-CE: o preservativo feminino precisa sair da vitrine

Assessing nurses' knowledge and attitudes towards promoting female condom use in South African primary healthcare clinics

BACKGROUND

Female condoms protect against unplanned pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) including HIV; however, their uptake is very low in South Africa. Nurses are frontline healthcare workers and are uniquely positioned to promote their use to their clients. This study assesses nurses' knowledge of, attitudes to, and practices regarding the promotion of female condoms at selected primary healthcare facilities in the King Sabata Dalindyebo sub-district of the Eastern Cape, South Africa.

METHODS

A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted from April to May 2021 at five community health centres in the King Sabata Dalindyebo sub-district, South Africa. A total of 139 nurses completed a self-administered questionnaire. Data were analysed using simple descriptive statistics.

RESULTS

The majority of the participants (82.7%) were knowledgeable about the female condom. Some participants did not have a good attitude and willingness to promote female condom use to their clients. Junior nurses (enrolled nursing assistants and newly qualified professional nurses) were less knowledgeable about the female condom than more qualified and older nurses. There was no significant association between level of knowledge and attitude or willingness to promote the use of the female condom.

CONCLUSION

This study found good knowledge of the female condom among the nurses; however, the knowledge did not translate into a willingness to promote the device at their health facilities. Capacity building of the junior nurses will fill the knowledge gaps identified. Studies exploring the sociocultural issues around the female condom are needed in the region.

[Knowledge, attitude and practices regarding condom use among women prisoners: the prevention of STD/HIV in the prison setting]

The objective of this study was to evaluate the knowledge, attitude and practices of women prisoners regarding the use of female and male condoms as a means of prevention against STD/HIV. This quantitative and evaluative Knowledge, Attitude and Practice (KAP) study included 155 female prisoners. Data collection was performed between January and March 2010 at the State of Ceará Women's Penitentiary. Although the women had heard of and/or knew about the purposes of the use of condoms, only 35 (22.6%) had appropriate knowledge regarding male condoms, and 11 (7.1%) in regards to the use of female condoms. Their attitudes were less favorable regarding oral sex. Appropriate practice was not significantly representative, particularly regarding the female condom. Homo/bisexuality, gender issues, lack of knowledge, and the difficult access to condoms are obstacles that must be considered in the promotion of sexual health in the studied group.

Evaluación del uso del preservativo femenino promovido desde un programa de educación para la salud: un enfoque cualitativo

El trabajo aquí recogido se aborda desde un estudio de caso, a través del enfoque cualitativo, mediante la técnica del grupo de discusión con la participación de 9 grupos, conformados por un total de 83 estudiantes universitarios del noroeste de España, con edades entre 19 y 42 años. Los objetivos principales de este trabajo son conocer la satisfacción de los y las participantes con el uso del preservativo femenino, así como las ventajas y obstáculos encontrados en su utilización que ha sido promovida a través de un programa de promoción de la salud. Como resultados y conclusiones destacar que las mujeres enfatizan en mayor medida que los varones la satisfacción y ventajas obtenidas con la utilización del método. Como puntos fuertes sobre el uso del preservativo femenino los y las participantes destacan la alta resistencia a la rotura y entre las debilidades apuntan los problemas ligados a su colocación y estética. El estudio sobre el uso del preservativo femenino revela la necesidad de continuar desarrollando intervenciones de formación encaminadas a la promoción de este método, sin excluir el empleo de otros, así como de reforzar la incorporación de estrategias educativas que permitan avanzar en la eliminación de estereotipos de género.

Percepções de casais heterossexuais acerca do uso da camisinha feminina

Objetivou-se, nesta pesquisa exploratório-descritiva, qualitativa, conhecer as percepções de casais heterossexuais jovens, acerca do uso da camisinha feminina e compreender os fatores que propiciam e dificultam seu uso rotineiro. Coletaram-se os dados em outubro e novembro de 2007, por meio de questionário autoaplicável. Utilizou-se o Discurso do Sujeito Coletivo na análise. A idade dos 26 informantes variou entre 20 e 27 anos. Apreendeu-se que conhecem a eficiência desse método, mas reconhecem a dificuldade das mulheres para a negociação. Como limitantes apresentam pequena divulgação e alto custo. Do ato sexual protegido por camisinha feminina emergiram depoimentos discordantes. Uns enfocam o desconforto, dor e aparência grotesca, outros abordam a praticidade, confiabilidade e prazer; no entanto, salientam que a falta de familiaridade e o desconhecimento são fatores que desencadeiam grande parte das dificuldades, evidenciando, assim, a necessidade de implementação de novas estratégias de educação em saúde.