What Works for Women and Girls

EVIDENCE1. Consistent use of male condoms can reduce the chances of HIV acquisition by more than95% (IOM, NAS, 2001).“Male latex condoms, when used consistently and correctly, are highly effective inpreventing sexual transmission of HIV” (Cochrane Collaborative Review Group on HIVInfection and AIDS, 2004: 4). Conclusions were based on systematic reviews and metaanalysisof high methodological quality, which met pre-determined criteria of methodologicalrigor. Cochrane reviews are the “gold standard” of study synthesis. 60 reviewsmet the criteria (Cochrane Collaborative Review Group on HIV Infection and AIDS,2004). (Gray I) (condoms)Information on condom usage and HIV serology was obtained from 25 publishedstudies of serodiscordant heterosexual couples in the United States, Europe, Haiti,Brazil, Thailand, Zaire, Rwanda, and Zambia. Condom efficacy was calculated from theHIV transmission rates for always-users and never-users. For always-users, 12 cohortsamples yielded a consistent HIV incidence of .9 per 100 person years. For 11 cohortsamples of never-users, incidence was estimated at 6.8 per 100 person years for maleto-femaletransmission and 5.9 per 100 female-to-male transmissions. The condom’seffectiveness at preventing HIV transmission is estimated to be 87% with consistentuse, but it may be as low as 60% or as high as 96%. Condom efficacy for HIV reductionis similar to, although perhaps lower than that for pregnancy, which is 97%. However,the condom may be less efficacious in preventing HIV transmission than in preventingpregnancy for a number of reasons. Pregnancy results only from vaginal sex, but HIVcan be transmitted through vaginal, oral, and anal routes. In addition, conception canonly take place during a few days of a woman’s menstrual cycle, while HIV may betransmitted at any time. (Davis and Weller, 1999). (Gray I) (condoms)Low HIV prevalence in Brazil is due in part to the use of condoms in the first sexualencounter among the general population increasing from 4% to 55% between 1986 and2003, according to Ministry of Health statistics (Gauri et al., 2007). HIV prevalencerates have remained low in Brazil at 0.6% of the population between 2001 and 2007(UNAIDS, 2008). (Gray V) (condom use, Brazil)2. The ability of the female condom to prevent HIV transmission is likely similar to that of themale condom.Laboratory studies have shown that the female condom is impermeable to various STIorganisms, including HIV (PATH and UNFPA, 2006; Drew et al., 1990 cited in Hokeet al., 2007). (Gray II) (female condoms)Male and female condoms, when used consistently and correctly, are comparable ineffectiveness (Feldblum et al., 2001; Fontanet et al., 1998; French et al., 2003 cited inDias et al., 2006). (Gray II) (female condoms)54 CHAPTER 3 PREVENTION FOR WOMEN