| From: |
Gabriel ADEYEMO [ profile ] |
| Subject: |
NARI to test possibility of using vaginal rings for HIV prevention
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| Sent: |
Mar 6th, 2012 - 05:20:39 |
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SOURCE:* Indian Express*
AUTHOR: Anuradha Mascarenhas
http://www.indianexpress.com/news/nari-to-test-possibility-of-using-vaginal-rings-for-hiv-prevention/916833/0
Fellow Advocate!!!
National AIDS Research Institute (NARI) scientists will test how safe and
flexible vaginal rings are among women in their new study before lacing
them with microbicides to prevent HIV infection. NARI will screen 150 women
before inserting the non-medicated vaginal ring to check if it can be used
safely and continuously before it can be developed as a tool to protect
them from HIV.
Three sites have been identified for the clinical trial planned by the
Microbicide Trials Network and funded by the US-based National Institutes
of Health. A total of 150 women will be enrolled at the clinical trial site
at NARI in Pune and 102 at University of Alabama, and Bronx Lebanon
hospital in the US, Dr R.S. Paranjape, director, NARI told *Newsline*.
This is perhaps the first such study that looks at non-medicated vaginal
rings as an important tool to be eventually used for delivering
microbicides. Clinical trials with topical microbicides such as vaginal
gels are underway. These are applied vaginally to prevent sexually
transmitted diseases. However, according to Dr A R Risbud, Scientist F at
NARI, there are issues of adherence. The gels are used at the time of
intercourse and there are concerns like leakage of the product or extra
wetness, says Risbud.
This ring is not a contraceptive, is non-medicated and made of silicone
elastomer. It will be inserted after women are screened for infections.
Once HIV and Reproductive Tract Infections are ruled out, the study will
commence for a period of three months to check the acceptability of the
rings among women. According to Neelam Joglekar, social scientist with the
trial, vaginal rings could give women the power to protect themselves
effectively from HIV... While behaviour modification (abstinence and
monogamous relationship) and condoms are the only preventive measures at
present, there is an urgent need to develop methods that can be controlled
by women for protection against HIV, Paranjape said.
Thanks for reading through. Full story of this article is available on the
link above.
--
Many Thanks
Yours' in Prevention Science
Gabriel, ADEYEMO
Regional Focal Point - West Africa
Global Youth Coalition on HIV/AID (GYCA), a program of the Public Health
Institute
+234-80-6798-7317 | gabriel (at) gyca.org
www.gyca.org | www.phi.org
GYCA is a youth-led global network of over 6,500 young leaders and adult
allies working on youth and HIV/AIDS in 173 countries world-wide. GYCA's
mission is to empower young leaders with the skills, knowledge, resources
and opportunities they need to scale up HIV/AIDS interventions amongst
their peers.
*My United Nations Pledge 2011-2012: "To lend my wit and my strength to the
AIDS Response guiding global youth towards one goal: Zero HIV: Zero AIDS
Related Deaths, Zero New Infections, Zero Stigma"*
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