Division of Social and Behavioural Research, Indian Council of Medical Research-National Institute of Translational Virology and AIDS research (Formerly ICMR-NARI), Pune, India.
Division of Epidemiology, Indian Council of Medical Research-National Institute of Translational Virology and AIDS research (Formerly ICMR-NARI), Pune, India.
BMC Public Health. 2024 Nov 21;24(1):3240. doi: 10.1186/s12889-024-20613-7.
To ensure the acceptability and effectiveness of potential Multipurpose Prevention Technologies (MPTs), understanding user needs, and preferences are crucial to inform the design of MPTs. This article aims to explore the perceptions towards potential MPT use and to explore the needs of multiple stakeholders in India within their social and behavioural contexts.
A qualitative multicentric study was conducted in three Indian states-Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu. The study involved a total of 222 interviews: 77 in-depth interviews with women, including those from the general population, HIV-positive women, and street and brothel-based Female Sex Workers (FSWs); 84 in-depth interviews with men and 61 key informant interviews were conducted. Three focus group discussions were conducted with FSWs. Interviews explored perceptions of the potential MPTs, needs, and factors that may potentially affect their use and adherence. Interviews and FGDs were transcribed and translated verbatim. Thematic analysis approach was used to analyse the data in NVivo version 8.
The following themes highlight the need and preferences among women for the potential MPT product: 1) Overall perceptions about new MPT, 2) People at high risk need long acting products, 3) Condom versus new MPT: potential of MPT, 4) Women empowerment through MPTs 5) Secrecy and confidentiality 6) Non-stigmatising MPT product positioning.
Several stakeholders in this study expressed their need for new MPTs, but concerns regarding confidentiality, privacy, stigma and, adherence were identified. Besides efficacy, characteristics such as the size, packaging, formulation, and texture of MPTs, should be taken into account when designing the MPT products, also considering the needs of women, specially, female sex workers.
为确保潜在多用途预防技术（MPTs）的可接受性和有效性，了解用户的需求和偏好对于MPTs 的设计至关重要。本文旨在探讨印度不同利益相关者对潜在 MPT 使用的看法，并在社会和行为背景下探索他们的需求。
在印度三个邦（马哈拉施特拉邦、卡纳塔克邦和泰米尔纳德邦）进行了一项定性多中心研究。研究共进行了 222 次访谈：77 次深入访谈妇女，包括普通人群、艾滋病毒阳性妇女和街头及妓院女性性工作者（FSWs）；84 次深入访谈男性和 61 次关键知情人访谈。还与 FSWs 进行了 3 次焦点小组讨论。访谈探讨了对潜在 MPT 的看法、需求以及可能影响其使用和坚持的因素。访谈和 FGD 进行了逐字转录和翻译。使用 NVivo 版本 8 中的主题分析方法对数据进行分析。
以下主题突出了女性对潜在 MPT 产品的需求和偏好：1）对新 MPT 的总体看法，2）高风险人群需要长效产品，3）安全套与新 MPT：MPT 的潜力，4）通过 MPT 增强妇女权能，5）保密性和机密性，6）非污名化 MPT 产品定位。
本研究中的几个利益相关者表示需要新的 MPT，但也确定了对保密性、隐私、污名和坚持的关注。除了疗效外，还应考虑 MPT 产品的尺寸、包装、配方和质地等特征，同时考虑到妇女的需求，特别是女性性工作者的需求。
