Acceptability of Carraguard, a candidate microbicide and methyl cellulose placebo vaginal gels among HIV-positive women and men in Durban, South Africa

Table 3 Participants' attitudes toward study products

	All women (n = 27)	Men (n = 13)
Overall study product rating:
• Liked	93% (25/27)	92% (12/13)
• Felt neutral	4% (1/27)	8% (1/13)
• Disliked	4% (1/27)	0
Liked gel's color	89% (24/27)	92% (12/13)
Liked gel's smell	85% (23/27)	69% (9/13)
Liked amount of gel	74% (20/27)	54% (7/13)
Liked gel's packaging	89% (24/27)	Not applicable
Liked carrying applicators with you	67% (18/27)	46% (6/13)
Gel ever¹ too wet	67% (18/27)	54% (7/13)
Gel ever too sticky	26% (7/27)	39% (5/13)
Gel ever come out of applicator too quickly	44% (12/27)	62% (8/13)
Gel ever soiled woman's clothes²	63% (17/27)	Not applicable
Prefers lubrication during sex³	82% (32/39)	Not applicable
Gel ever caused pain or irritation while using it	7% (2/27)	0
Gel ever caused pain or irritation after using it	4% (1/27)	0
Women in general could use gel without partner's knowledge	30% (8/27)	54% (7/13)
Woman herself would use gel without partner's knowledge	26% (7/27)	Not applicable
Would buy gel to use with spouse/steady partner	100% (27/27)	100% (13/13)

1. Here, "Ever" includes the responses rarely, sometimes, often, almost always, and always.
2. Note: we also asked participants about the gels drying too quickly and being too sticky, and whether the gels came out of the applicator too slowly. Very few users reported any of these as a problem.
3. All women (N = 39), regardless of randomisation group, were asked this question.

ISSN: 1742-6405