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Assessing the Reporting of Adherence and Sexual Activity in a Simulated Microbicide Trial in South Africa: An Interview Mode Experiment Using a Placebo Gel

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Abstract

Misreporting of adherence undermines detection of an association between product use and HIV infection in microbicide trials. This study investigates whether, in a placebo trial, audio computer-assisted self-interviewing (ACASI) produces more accurate reporting of adherence and sexual behavior than a face-to-face interview (FTFI). At three South African clinics, 849 women were enrolled and instructed to use applicators filled with placebo gel; participants were randomly assigned to FTFI or ACASI. Behavioral reports were validated through two biomarkers that detect product usage and unprotected sex. For most behaviors, ACASI generated significantly higher reporting, although differences by interview mode appeared to diminish over time. ACASI participants were more likely to report having had sex without gel, but reported and tested applicators did not indicate greater honesty about gel insertion with ACASI. While comparisons of reported unprotected sex with the validated biomarker revealed more agreement with ACASI than with FTFI, differences were small.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank Barbara Friedland, for her assistance in developing this project, for providing guidance, and for her careful reading of the manuscript. We also acknowledge Sumen Govender, Marlena Gehret, Vuyelwa Mehlomakulu, and Robin Maguire for their contributions. Funding for this research was provided by the Office of Population and Reproductive Health, Bureau for Global Health, United States Agency for International Development (USAID) under Award No. GPO-A-00-04-00019, and the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. Agency for International Development.

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Correspondence to Barbara S. Mensch.

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Mensch, B.S., Hewett, P.C., Abbott, S. et al. Assessing the Reporting of Adherence and Sexual Activity in a Simulated Microbicide Trial in South Africa: An Interview Mode Experiment Using a Placebo Gel. AIDS Behav 15, 407–421 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-010-9791-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-010-9791-z

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