School of Pharmacy, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, BT9 7BL, UK.
MRU (MatCH Research Unit), Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Durban, South Africa.
AIDS Behav. 2022 Sep;26(9):2954-2968. doi: 10.1007/s10461-022-03596-7. Epub 2022 Mar 16.
Steroid-releasing vaginal rings are available for contraception and estrogen replacement therapy, and a new antiretroviral-releasing ring was recently approved for HIV prevention. Marketed rings are white or transparent in appearance, non-scented, and supplied as one-size-fits-all devices with diameters ranging from 54 to 56 mm. In this study, drug-free silicone elastomer rings were manufactured in different sizes, colors and scents, and the opinions/preferences of 16 women (eThekwini District, South Africa; 20-34 years) assessed through focus group discussions and thematic analysis. Opinions varied on ring color and scent, with some women preferring specific colors or scent intensities, while for others these attributes were unimportant. Concerns about color and scent were linked to perceptions around vaginal health and safety related to chemical composition. There was greater agreement on preferred ring size; flexibility and width were considered important factors for insertion and comfort. Greater choice with ring products could facilitate acceptability and overall uptake.
释放甾体激素的阴道环可用于避孕和雌激素替代疗法，最近还批准了一种新型的释放抗逆转录病毒药物的阴道环用于预防 HIV。市售的阴道环呈白色或透明外观，无气味，作为一种均码设备供应，直径范围为 54 至 56 毫米。在这项研究中，我们用不同的尺寸、颜色和气味制造了无药物的硅酮弹性体环，并通过焦点小组讨论和主题分析评估了 16 名妇女（南非埃滕哈赫区，20-34 岁）的意见/偏好。对环的颜色和气味的意见不一，一些妇女喜欢特定的颜色或气味强度，而对另一些妇女来说，这些属性并不重要。对颜色和气味的关注与阴道健康以及与化学成分相关的安全性有关。对环的尺寸有更多的共识；灵活性和宽度被认为是插入和舒适度的重要因素。增加环产品的选择可以提高可接受性和总体使用率。
