Hypothetical Rectal Microbicide Acceptability and Factors Influencing It among Men Who Have Sex with Men in Tianjin, China

Abstract

ObjectivesTo measure potential acceptability of rectal microbicides and to explore factors likely to affect their acceptability among men who have sex with men (MSM).MethodsCross-sectional and retrospective surveys were conducted in this study. A questionnaire and a scale were used to measure the acceptability score for physical and functional characteristics of hypothetical rectal microbicides. We also evaluated the involvement of other factors such as sexual behaviors, social context, etc.ResultsMSMs we interviewed showed a high acceptability to rectal microbicides, indicated by the mean acceptability score of 2.92 (SD, 0.54, scale of 1–4). The results also suggested that microbicides were preferred in a cream form that can moisten and lubricate the rectum, prevent HIV infection and go unnoticed by their partners. Multivariate analysis showed that the microbicides acceptability varied significantly by education level (β = 0.135; P = 0.028), having casual partners (β = 0.174; P = 0.007), frequency of lubricant use (β = 0.134; P = 0.031), history of HIV test (β = 0.129; P = 0.036), willingness to use lubricant (β = 0.126; P = 0.045), locus of control by partners regarding STI infection (β = 0.168; P = 0.009).ConclusionsA positive response to rectal microbicides among MSMs was found in our study, suggesting that rectal microbicides might have a potential market in MSMs and they might play an important role in HIV/STIs prevention as a supplement. Further studies may be considered to combine the acceptability study with clinical research together to understand the true feelings of MSMs when they use the products.

Breakage is the norm: use of condoms and lubrication in anal sex among Black South African men who have sex with men

“…Both of these studies demonstrated very high rates of recent lubricant use, similar to those found in the USA, and higher than those reported among men who have sex with men in Indonesia and Lima, Peru (Carballo-Diéguez et al 2000; Morineau et al 2011; Clark et al 2013; Thienkrua et al 2016; Zhang et al 2016). …”

“…Some recent work has been conducted in Asian countries that examined associations between consistent lubricant use, condom use, and other factors among men who have sex with men in Bangkok, Thailand (Thienkrua et al 2016) and willingness to use lubricants and recent lubricant and condom use among men who have sex with men in Tianjin, China (Zhang et al 2016). Both of these studies demonstrated very high rates of recent lubricant use, similar to those found in the USA, and higher than those reported among men who have sex with men in Indonesia and Lima, Peru (Carballo-Diéguez et al 2000; Morineau et al 2011; Clark et al 2013; Thienkrua et al 2016; Zhang et al 2016).…”

Designing and Developing Suppository Formulations for anti-HIV Drug Delivery

“…Designing & developing suppository formulations for anti-HIV drug delivery Review among the 'men who have sex with men' (MSM) community was reported, suggesting that rectal microbicides have a potential market in the MSM population and may have an important role in HIV/STI prevention [29,60]. Since the real challenge to ART suppositories may be social rather than pharmacological, further studies may be considered to combine clinical acceptability studies with clinical research together to understand the true feelings and perceptions of the MSM population when they use the products [29,30,61,62].…”