Unintended pregnancies, sexually transmitted infection (STI) and HIV remain major public health issues across the world. In the last few years, scientists have initiated working on the concept of multi-purpose prevention technologies (MPT) for improving reproductive health of women by promoting women controlled methods, and the only MPT available in the world is a female condom. In spite of the female condom being available in the market for about 15 years, its use remains very low throughout the world including India. The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) recommends that there should be increased access to female-controlled methods which has the potential to be a life-saving tool. Very few studies have examined the acceptability of female condoms in India and no study has yet explored its uptake, acceptability and utilization as a spacing technology where there is a huge unmet need of contraception which is addressed in this proposal. 

Objectives

Primary Objective:

• Evaluate uptake of female condoms among young urban and rural women of reproductive age who are not using any contraception

Secondary Objectives:

• Evaluate its potential as a temporary contraceptive method as evaluated by pregnancy rate at the end of 1 year in the enrolled participants
• Evaluate acceptability of female condoms in young Indian couples

Type of research: Interventional study 

Investigators:

Dr. Smita Joshi (Principal Investigator)

Dr. Vinay Kulkarni (Co-Investigator)

Funding: Indian Council of Medical Research 

Start date: April 2015

End date: Feb 2018