DC Female Condom Program Highly Effective in Preventing HIV Infections

WASHINGTON, March 26, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- A new economic analysis conducted by Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and featured in the current issue of AIDS and Behavior, showed that the DC Female Condom program, a public-private partnership to provide and promote FC2 Female Condoms®(1) prevented enough HIV infections in the first year alone to save over $8 million in future medical care costs (over and above the cost of the program).  This means that for every dollar spent on the program, there was a cost savings of nearly $20. 

This coalition led by the DC Department of Health (DOH) with support from the Washington AIDS Partnership, CVS/Caremark and the Female Health Company provided educational services and distributed more than 200,000 FC2 Female Condoms in areas in the District with disproportionately high HIV prevalence rates among women.  The MAC AIDS Fund provided funding support for the project, which subsequently engaged five community-based organizations already working in the field of women's health and HIV/STD prevention to assist with education and distribution activities.

"These results clearly indicate that delivery of, and education about, female condoms is an effective HIV prevention intervention and an outstanding public health investment.  Similar community HIV prevention programs involving the female condom should be explored for replication in other high risk areas," said Dr. David R. Holtgrave, professor and chair of the Department of Health Behavior and Society at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and a national expert in evaluating the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of HIV prevention interventions.

Women, particularly African American women in urban areas like the District, are disproportionately affected by HIV/AIDS. Black women account for roughly 57 percent of new HIV infections in all American women and 90 percent of all new HIV infections in the District.  The success and affordability of this pilot program suggests that promotion and education of the female condom can have significant impact to improve the health of women who are at risk of contracting HIV.

"We are extremely excited and encouraged by the success of the DC FC2 Female Condom program.  The District still has a serious HIV epidemic and women are at risk.  It is critical that we empower women, especially those at greatest risk, to take control by increasing awareness of the female condom and providing both education and access to this highly effective and affordable option that empowers women to protect themselves,"  said Dr. Gregory Pappas, Senior Deputy Director HIV/AIDS STD Administration, DC Department of Health.

Cost-Utility Analysis of the DC Female Condom Program

A retrospective cost, threshold and cost-utility analysis by the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health reviewed the cost of a 2010 Washington, DC-based program that distributed more than 200,000 female condoms and provided more than $414,000 in education services in areas of DC with disproportionately high HIV prevalence among women.  The program was executed through a public-private partnership between the DC Department of Health, Female Health Company and CVS/Caremark and prevented enough HIV infections in the first year alone to save over $8 million in future medical care costs (over and above the cost of the program).  The analysis concludes that the provision and promotion of female condoms in high HIV prevalence geographic areas (such as Washington, DC) is a highly productive use of public health investment.  To read the study in its entirety, please see the current issue of AIDS and Behavior or read the study online at http://www.springerlink.com/content/21790257155t6651/.

Women & HIV/AIDS

Half of the 35 million adults worldwide living with HIV and AIDS are women. Women are also deemed at greater risk of heterosexual transmission of HIV because women are biologically twice more likely to become infected with HIV through unprotected heterosexual intercourse than men are.  African American women account for roughly 57 percent of new HIV infections in all American women and 90 percent of all new HIV infections in the District.  These statistics indicate that it is critical to communicate with at risk women to empower them to protect themselves against HIV by way of resources and education through programs such as the DC Female Condom program.    

About the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

As a leading international authority on public health, the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health is dedicated to protecting health and saving lives. Every day, the School works to keep millions safe from illness and injury by pioneering new research, deploying its knowledge and expertise in the field, and educating tomorrow's scientists and practitioners in the global defense of human life. Founded in 1916 as part of the Johns Hopkins University, the Bloomberg School of Public Health is the world's oldest and largest independent school of public health, with over 2,200 students from 87 countries. For more information, visit http://www.jhsph.edu. 

About the DC Department of Health

The District of Columbia Department of Health promotes and protects the health, safety and quality of life of residents, visitors and those doing business in the District of Columbia. The Department's responsibilities include identifying health risks; educating the public; preventing and controlling diseases, injuries and exposure to environmental hazards; promoting effective community collaborations; and optimizing equitable access to community health resources. Within the department the HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis, STD and TB Administration (HAHSTA) is the core District government agency to prevent HIV/AIDS, STDs, Tuberculosis and Hepatitis, reduce transmission of the diseases and provide care and treatment to persons living with the diseases. 

(1) The FC2 Female Condom® is the only FDA-approved, female-initiated method to prevent both sexually transmitted infections (including HIV/AIDS) and unintended pregnancy.

SOURCE Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health; DC Department of Health