Evaluating the Availability of the Female Condom in Urban Areas Disproportionately Affected By HIV in the United States

Introduction: HIV continues to be a leading cause of death for women between the ages of 15-54 in the United States. One HIV prevention method that has been promoted to prevent the transmission of HIV among women is the female condom. While the acceptability of the female condom has been studied, little is known about this products availability even though the availability of the female condom is critical to the sustainability of HIV prevention interventions that promote it. Information about the availability of the female condom is particularly needed in parts of the U.S. disproportionately affected by HIV. This study sought to examine the availability of the female condom in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, which are among the top ten states reporting the highest number of HIV diagnoses in 2011.

Methods: Data about businesses that sell/provide contraception (e.g., health departments, gas stations, pharmacies, convenient stores, family planning clinics and supermarkets) in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Camden County, which is located in South New Jersey, was obtained from InfoGroup. These businesses were contacted and asked about whether they sold the female condom or male condom. Descriptive statistics and geographical information systems were used to describe the female condoms availability.

Results: Less than 1% of the 1000 businesses contacted reported selling/providing the female condom. Some employees confused the female condom with other contraception methods such as the diaphragm. Some employees also made derogatory comments to female research assistants that inquired about the availability of this product.

Conclusions: Women who rely on obtaining contraception in-person within the areas studied are unlikely to be able to obtain the female condom. The lack of availability of the female condom raises serious questions about the sustainability of HIV prevention interventions that promote this product. If this product is going to be considered as a serious option for reducing transmission of HIV, its availability must be improved and other factors that may influence women’s access to obtaining it (e.g., harassment and derogatory comments from providers) must also be considered.