Biomarker evaluation of self-reported condom use among women in HIV-discordant couples

• Published in: International journal of STD & AIDS Vol. 24; no. 7; p. 537
• Main Authors: Mose, F, Newman, L P, Njunguna, R, Tamooh, H, John-Stewart, G, Farquhar, C, Kiarie, J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 01.07.2013
• Subjects: Biomarkers - analysis; Condoms - statistics & numerical data; Condoms - utilization; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Family Characteristics; Female; HIV Infections - prevention & control; HIV Seronegativity; HIV Seropositivity - transmission; Humans; Kenya; Male; Middle Aged; Prostate-Specific Antigen - analysis; Self Report; Semen - chemistry; Socioeconomic Factors; Kenya; semen exposure; sexual behaviour; AIDS; discordant couples; biomarker; self-reported; transmission; HIV; condom use; prevention; PSA; prostate-specific antigen; women
• ISSN: 1758-1052
• DOI: 10.1177/0956462412473892

Self-reported condom use is a commonly collected statistic, yet its use in research studies may be inaccurate. We evaluated this statistic among women in HIV-discordant couples enrolled in a clinical trial in Nairobi, Kenya. Vaginal swabs were acquired from 125 women and tested for prostate-specific antigen (PSA), a biomarker for semen exposure, using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Ten (10%) of 98 women who reported 100% use of condoms in the previous month tested PSA positive. In a bivariate logistic regression analysis, among women who reported 100% condom use in the previous month, those with ≤8 years of school had significantly higher odds of testing PSA-positive (odds ratio [OR] = 8.39, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.02-69.13) than women with more schooling. Our estimate may be conservative, as the ability to detect PSA may be limited to 24-48 hours after exposure. Less educated women may be a target group for counselling regarding reporting sexual behaviour in clinical trials.