The awareness and use of the female condom among women at low and high risk for

Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine thelevels of awareness on female condom use in Ankaraamong women having low and high risk for sexually transmittedinfections.Materials and methods: This descriptive study was performedbetween 1 March 2007 and 1 May 2007. High riskgroup for sexually transmitted infections were sex workersthat presented to the Hospital of Venereal Disease(n=186), and the low-risk group was women that appliedto a family planning outpatient clinic (n=190). Totally, 376women completed a questionnaire administered face-toface.Obtained data were analyzed statistically.Results: The mean age was 40.04±9.33 years, the meanduration of work was 12.32±7.36 year, 42.5% of womenhad sexually transmitted infections any time of life, meannumber of intercourses was 12.30±6.66 per day; 59.8%currently used oral contraceptive, 30.6% male condom,5.5% tube ligation, 61.3% of women were familiar aboutfemale condom, only eight women (4.3%) used in highrisk groups. The mean of age of low-risk women was32.23±8.18 year, 5.8 of women worked out of home,50.5% of women were graduated primary school, 2.1%of women had sexually transmitted infections any timein life, currently used contraceptives were 29.2% malecondom, 28.7% withdrawal, 25.3% intra uterine devices,18.9% of women were familiar about female condom. Inall, 69.4% of the high-risk group and 30.5% of the low riskgroups’ women reported that they would use the femalecondom if counseling concerning its use were provided.Conclusion: Female condom awareness was very lowamong the studied women. However, if they receivecounseling, a half of women can use female condoms.