Perceptions and factors influencing accessibility and acceptability of the Female Condom among women in Kiambaa Division, Kiambu District; Kenya

ABSTRACT

Advocacy of the female condom emerged in the context of growing evidence that heterosexual intercourse was placing women at increased risk of HIV infection. Since the approval of the Female Condom (FC) in the United Kingdom and the United States of America in 1992 and 1993 respectively more than 90 developing countries have introduced the FC to the public. The study objectives were to identify the perceptions of the women in Kiambaa Division towards use of the FC, to establish their experiences with use of the FC and to establish the factors that influence accessibility and acceptability of the FC among the same group. This was a cross-sectional survey in which the calculated sample size (n) was 289. Data was collected using interview schedules and Focus Group Discussions. Quantitative data was analyzed statistically while thematic techniques were used to analyze qualitative data. The study revealed that the perceptions that influenced acceptability of the FC are; the FC is difficult to use (χ2=71.36, df=2, p