Influencing spermicide use among low-income minority women

Spermicides reduce the risk of a variety of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and hold promise for reducing the risk of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmission. Many high-risk women are unaware that they are at risk for STDs and are unfamiliar with spermicides, however. A program promoting spermicides for the prevention of STDs was tested in a controlled intervention among low-income minority women seeking services in a public health family planning clinic. Women exposed to the intervention had more positive attitudes toward spermicides and used spermicides more than three times as often, on average, as control subjects. The best predictor of spermicide/condom use was knowledge of how to use spermicides correctly (OR 3.2, 95% CI 2.0, 5.0). Fear of acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) or STDs did not predict spermicide use. This study demonstrates that brief interventions in waiting areas of public health clinics can have a significant impact in helping women protect themselves from HIV and STDs.