Men's and Women's Preferences for Male- or Female-Controlled Barrier Methods: Results from a Couple-Level Research Design

Trent W. Moore, Florida State University
David F. Sly, Florida State University
Dianne H. Montgomery, Florida State University

Much of what we know about people's experiences with the female condom have been based upon the results of focus groups of women shown the device as well as from a few longitudinal studies of women who have tried it. In some of these studies women have been asked to discuss or report their partner's reactions to it. However, direct reports of male reactions with the method have been lacking. Using couple-data from a large randomized trial designed to evaluate the efficacy of an HIV/STI risk reduction intervention for high-risk main sex partners, we are interested in finding out what factors are most influential with respect to men's and women's preferences for either the male or female condom. We contrast men's and women's self-reports and their perceptions of their partners' reactions these techniques and analyze which sociodemographic characteristics and beliefs are more influential in determining men's and women's preferences.