P21.03
Background: Women account for about 60% of the HIV infected population, which necessitates prevention mechanisms that specifically target women. There are currently robust research initiatives around vaginal microbicides as a potential HIV prevention tool for women. The CAPRISA 004 study is currently the only study that has shown partial effectiveness of vaginal microbicides to prevent HIV and STIs, and there are confirmatory studies that could change the microbicide research field. Emerging technologies like microbicides require positive beliefs and knowledge from healthcare workers to ensure successful implementation. A greater understanding of knowledge and perceptions among healthcare professionals will influence the pathway to microbicide development and possible future implementation. This study was conducted to assess the knowledge and perceptions of vaginal microbicides among postgraduate healthcare professionals at the University of Limpopo, Medunsa.
Methods: A quantitative descriptive cross sectional study was conducted among 78 postgraduate students in the Masters of Public Health programme at the University of Limpopo, Medunsa Campus. A self-administered questionnaire was used as data collection tool.
Results: About 90% of the respondents indicated an awareness of vaginal microbicides. A level of knowledge, however, was assessed by the number of correct responses on questions posed about vaginal microbicides. Whilst the overall knowledge was around 50%, 78.9% of respondents had positive perceptions about vaginal microbicides as a potential HIV prevention tool for women. There were no socio-demographic factors that were identified to influence the positive perceptions of vaginal microbicides.
Conclusions: The study observed that postgraduate healthcare students at the University of Limpopo were fairly knowledgable about vaginal microbicides and had positive perceptions about microbicides as a potential HIV/STI prevention tool for women.
