MICROBICIDES: DEVELOPMENTAL CONTEXT OF ACCEPTABILITY

描述(改编自申请者的描述)：性传播 疾病(性传播疾病)是青少年的主要健康问题。的发展。 预防性病的新方法，如局部使用杀菌剂，效果很好 优先考虑。为了有效，杀微生物剂将需要被接受和使用。 需要针对青少年的干预措施来促进杀微生物剂的使用 在青少年中。目前的提案审查了以下发展因素 与青少年使用类杀微生物剂有关 并探索重要人物(男孩、母亲、 影响青春期女孩决策的人)。特定的 目标：1)描述青春期女性和男性以及重要的成年人 (青春期女孩的母亲和医疗保健提供者)预期使用 局部杀微生物剂。申请者将回答研究问题，重点是 他们对产品、促进使用的方面、使用障碍、 以及这些认知在不同群体中有何不同。2)评估如何 对使用、初始使用和持续使用的讨论因以下因素而异 发展特征(认知功能和决策， 性心理成熟、社会文化背景)，以及与 产品。方法：第一个具体目标将通过开展 青春期男性、青春期女性、母亲和保健的焦点小组 供应商。第二个具体目标和相关假设将通过以下方式进行检验 招募200名青春期女孩(14至21岁)参与一项研究 在此期间，他们有机会使用经批准的阴道内 避孕产品。这些女孩将在六个月内每周接受跟踪 确定产品的使用情况及其使用或不使用 产品。意义：这项工作将提供重要的新信息 关于将影响少女使用杀微生物剂的因素。这个 我们的研究结果将对指导 针对青少年的干预措施，将促进可接受性和使用 杀微生物剂，这样做将导致更好地控制性传播疾病 青少年。

DESCRIPTION (Adapted from the applicant's description): Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are a major health problem for adolescents. The development of new methods for STD prevention such as topical microbicides is of high priority. To be effective, microbicides will need to be accepted and used. Adolescent-specific interventions will be needed to promote microbicide use among adolescents. The current proposal examines developmental factors that are associated with use of microbicide-like formulations among adolescent girls and explores the attitudes of significant individuals (boys, mothers, health care providers) who impact adolescent girls' decision-making. Specific Aims: 1) To describe how adolescent females and males and significant adults (mothers of adolescent girls and health care providers) anticipate using a topical microbicide. The applicant will address research questions focused on their familiarity with the products, aspects that foster use, barriers to use, and how these perceptions vary across different groups. 2) To evaluate how discussion of use, initial use, and sustained use varies as a function of developmental characteristics (cognitive functioning and decision-making, psychosexual maturation, sociocultural context), and the experience with the product. Methods: The first specific aim will be accomplished by conducting focus groups of adolescent males, adolescent females, mothers, and health care providers. The second specific aim and relevant hypotheses will be tested by recruiting 200 adolescent girls (14 to 21 years) to participate in a study during which they have an opportunity to use approved intravaginal contraceptive products. These girls will be followed weekly for six months to determine use of the product and their experiences using or not using the product. Significance: This work will provide important new information regarding factors that will influence microbicide use by adolescent girls. The results of our research will be critical in guiding the development of adolescent-specific interventions that will foster the acceptability and use of microbicides, and in doing so, will result in better control of STDs among adolescents.