RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Cessation of intravaginal practices to prevent bacterial vaginosis: a pilot intervention in Zimbabwean women
JF Sexually Transmitted Infections
JO Sex Transm Infect
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd
SP 183
OP 188
DO 10.1136/sextrans-2014-051764
VO 91
IS 3
A1 Allahna Esber
A1 Precious Moyo
A1 Marshall Munjoma
A1 Shelley Francis
A1 Janneke van de Wijgert
A1 Tsungai Chipato
A1 Abigail Norris Turner
YR 2015
UL http://sti.bmj.com/content/91/3/183.abstract
AB Objectives Intravaginal practices—including behaviours such as washing with soap or other materials, using fingers or cloth, or insertion of herbs, powders or other products to dry, cleanse or ‘tighten’ the vagina—may increase women's risk of bacterial vaginosis by disrupting the vaginal microbiota. In Zimbabwe, intravaginal practices are common. The objective of this study was to assess the feasibility of an intervention based on the transtheoretical model of behaviour change (also called the ‘stages of change’ model) to encourage cessation of vaginal practices among a sample of Zimbabwean women.Methods We conducted a 12-week behaviour change intervention to encourage cessation of intravaginal practices (other than cleansing with water) among 85 Zimbabwean women who reported these practices.Results Self-reported intravaginal practices declined significantly over follow-up, with 100% of women reporting at least one intravaginal practice at enrolment compared with 8% at the final visit. However, we found no significant effect of this reduction on bacterial vaginosis prevalence in unadjusted or adjusted multivariable models (adjusted prevalence ratio for any practice vs none: 0.94, 95% CI 0.61 to 1.43).Conclusions While the intervention was successful in reducing women's self-reported engagement in intravaginal practices, we observed no corresponding benefit to vaginal health.