Anti-HIV efficacy of barrier contraceptives in HIV-discordant couples.

Researchers at University Teaching Hospital in Lusaka Zambia began a prospective study of condom and spermicide use and HIV infection among HIV-discordant couples in September 1988. 1 partner was HIV positive and the other HIV negative. Even though researchers had entered 114 couples into the study by May 1989 this report only includes the 50 couples who came back for 1 or more follow up visits (40 male positive couples and 10 female positive couples) with an average of 3 months data for each couple. The average age of seronegatives stood at 31.1 years. The number of coital episodes ranged from 5-94 with an average of 32.3. 4 couples did not use a condom during sexual intercourse. 3 couples used only 1 condom. The number of condoms used among all the couples ranged from 0-93 the average being 23.2. The mean number of spermicides used stood at 28 (range 0-94). 3 couples did not use any spermicides. 6.3% of the couples (3) had extramarital relations since enrollment into the study. 8 couples (16.7%) experienced 1 or more broken condoms which accounted for 17 of 1137 condoms distributed. Even though couples used 1 or more barrier methods during 97% of coital episodes 15.2% of the couples (7) did not use a barrier method for 1 or more episodes. 2 seroconversions transpired for a seroconversion rate of 12.1/100 couple years. Due to the limited amount of time following these couples however this rate will most likely change as time progresses. Case 1 had an extramarital coital episode and in the other case the couple left Lusaka without taking their barrier methods. 4.1% of the previous HIV-negative partners became infected with HIV.