RESUMEN

OBJECTIVES: The opinions of Brazilian women regarding vaginal delivery and cesarean sections was studied. METHODS: Six hundred and fifty-six women who had given birth in seven hospitals in São Paulo and Pernambuco, using the Public Health Service, were interviewed. The opinions of women who had delivered only by cesarean section was compared with those of women who had had at least one vaginal delivery. RESULTS: Significantly more women who had experienced at least one vaginal delivery considered this to be the best way of giving birth (90.4% vs. 75.9% among C-section-only women). Similar proportions in both groups (45.5% and 42.8%) stated that vaginal labor is better because it causes less pain and suffering for the woman. Significantly more women who had experienced a vaginal labor (47.1% vs. 30.3%) reported that it had no disadvantage. More women who had only had cesarean sections referred not having contractions/pain as an advantage of this method (56.7% vs. 41.7%). CONCLUSIONS: Apparently, pain and women's perception of pain were the characteristics which differentiated women with history of vaginal delivery from those with cesarean sections in the sample studied. However, the opinion that vaginal delivery is better than cesarean section was expressed independently of the recognition that pain could be its main disadvantage.

Asunto(s)

RESUMEN

OBJECTIVES: The opinions of Brazilian women regarding vaginal delivery and cesarean sections was studied. METHODS: Six hundred and fifty-six women who had given birth in seven hospitals in São Paulo and Pernambuco, using the Public Health Service, were interviewed. The opinions of women who had delivered only by cesarean section was compared with those of women who had had at least one vaginal delivery. RESULTS: Significantly more women who had experienced at least one vaginal delivery considered this to be the best way of giving birth (90.4% vs. 75.9% among C-section-only women). Similar proportions in both groups (45.5% and 42.8%) stated that vaginal labor is better because it causes less pain and suffering for the woman. Significantly more women who had experienced a vaginal labor (47.1% vs. 30.3%) reported that it had no disadvantage. More women who had only had cesarean sections referred not having contractions/pain as an advantage of this method (56.7% vs. 41.7%). CONCLUSIONS: Apparently, pain and women's perception of pain were the characteristics which differentiated women with history of vaginal delivery from those with cesarean sections in the sample studied. However, the opinion that vaginal delivery is better than cesarean section was expressed independently of the recognition that pain could be its main disadvantage.

RESUMEN

Sexually transmitted diseases, including AIDS, and unplanned pregnancies continue to be a serious worldwide problem. A number of organizations are developing woman-controlled vaginal formulations to prevent these problems. However, little information is available regarding the types of products women prefer even though such knowledge is essential to obtain widespread use. This is the first of several articles that describe the results of a consumer preference study for such vaginal formulations performed in Campinas, São Paulo State, Brazil. Because no published methodology was available, the instruments and interview techniques were developed first and procedures established for the identification and participation of research subjects. After preparation of a questionnaire, a pilot study was performed to evaluate it, to establish the interview technique, and to determine the optimal method for subject recruitment. Based on the results, the approach was selected and applied to 635 subjects from different age and socioeconomic groups. The developed methodology and questionnaire, the advantages and the problems encountered, are presented.

Asunto(s)

RESUMEN

A study was carried out to identify characteristics that women would want for an idealized vaginal contraceptive, and the possible association of these characteristics with age and socioeconomic status. The study was done in Campinas, São Paulo State, Brazil. A total of 635 women were selected by age and socioeconomic status, using the "social network" technique. Almost half were adolescents (15-19 years old) and the rest were adults (20-45 years old). Half were of low socioeconomic status and the rest of medium-high status. The data were analyzed with SPSS-PC and EPI-INFO 6.0. Logistic regression and chi 2 were used for the analysis. Despite some differences found between age and socioeconomic status in regard to the characteristics desired for the idealized method, most of the participants expressed the same preferences. The results indicate that women would like the idealized method to be a cream, rather than a suppository, with no odor or flavor, to be colorless, to be placed in the vagina with an applicator well before coitus, and to offer protection against sexually transmitted diseases including AIDS.

Asunto(s)

RESUMEN

Novel vaginal formulations are under development to combat the increasing incidence of sexually transmitted diseases, including AIDS, and also unplanned pregnancies. A study was performed to determine women's preferences for different dosage forms (gel, cream, ovule/suppository, film, foam, tablet), width, length, and color of an applicator, and various types of packages. The study was conducted in Campinas, Brazil. A total of 635 women were interviewed, including both adolescents and adults and low and middle-high socioeconomic groups. The large majority of the women preferred a gel over a cream; both were preferred over the other methods. When asked which method they would not use, the film was most frequently identified, followed by the tablet and ovule. The primary reasons for selecting a particular dosage form were ease of use, absence of odor or the presence of a pleasant one, absence of color, and insertion with an applicator. The major reasons for not using a method were discomfort, "plastic" appearance, distrust of effectiveness, difficulty with insertion, messiness, and rigidity/hardness. The majority of the women liked the applicator shown. The prefilled single dose applicator was by far the preferred packaging. This information should aid in the development of consumer-friendly, vaginal formulations.

Asunto(s)

RESUMEN

Vaginal formulations may have "dual" protective activity, against sexually transmitted diseases/AIDS and unplanned pregnancy. The attributes that women find acceptable or unacceptable for such dual protective methods were investigated. More than 50% of the women would not accept messiness, but it was more accepted for dual protective methods than for contraceptives. Very few women would use a dual protective method if it caused vaginal irritation, itching, swelling, or burning, problems associated with presently marketed methods. More than half of the women would use it if it appeared on the penis of their partner or required refrigeration. Use of an applicator to insert the formulation was generally preferred over a manual method. Most women preferred the formulation to be colorless or white, about 16% liked light colors, and about 10% liked darker colors. Almost half of the women were willing to pay up to $5.00 per application of a dual protective formulation, about 15% $3.00, and 30% $1.00. Dual protective methods seem highly acceptable and women would pay much more for them than for condoms. However, these methods should be free of problems usually associated with presently marketed formulations.

Asunto(s)