Estimated reading time: 9 minute(s)
A non-governmental organisation that promotes research development, New HIV Vaccines and Microbicides Advocacy Society (NHVMAS) have advocated the use of PrEp ring for women to reduce the spread of HIV.
According to the NHVMAS report, more women contract HIV than men and the national HIV prevalence is 1.4 percent among adults aged 15–49 years.
The report reads, “Women aged 15–49 years are more than twice more likely to be living with HIV than men (1.9 percent versus 0.9 percent).
“HIV prevalence was the highest among females age 35-39 years at 3.3 percent, highest among males age 50-54 years at 2.3 percent.
“The difference in HIV prevalence between women and men is greatest among younger adults, with young women aged 20–24 years having almost four times as likely to be living with HIV as young men in the same age group, (1.3 percent versus 0.4 percent).”
According to the report, NHVMAS recommended the PrEP ring as a National HIV prevention tool in Nigeria in line with WHO recommendation, noting that the PrEP ring is crucial to achieving HIV epidemic control in the country.
In her remark, the Executive Director of NHVMAS, Florita Durueke, at a media training described the PrEP ring also known as dapivirine vaginal ring or oral PrEP, as a flexible vaginal ring made of silicone that slowly releases an antiretroviral (ARV) drug called dapivirine, over the course of one month to reduce the risk of HIV infection. It was developed by the International Partnership for Microbicides (IPM).
Durueke explained that Dapivirine vaginal rings can reduce HIV incidence when used with high adherence. According to her, recent open-label studies showed greater adherence to the ring adding that modeling data suggest that HIV risk is reduced by about 50 percent
“It is recommended for cisgender women aged 18 and older at substantial risk of HIV and who are unwilling or unable to use oral PrEP as recommended by the World Health Organization.
The ring presents an additional option for women who want to protect themselves from HIV as the family planning field has shown that more options can lead to higher uptake of prevention methods overall.
She said: “The ring can be inserted by women without help from a health care provider – a health care provider may insert the first ring, if wanted, to ensure that the woman is familiar with how the ring should be inserted
“The PrEP ring provides a steady release of dapivirine over one month without the need for maintenance –Low maintenance means less burden on the user to remember doses, and may encourage more consistent use. It can be stored, inserted, and removed in private.
“During clinical trials, it was rarely felt by women or male partners. Many women in clinical trials reported that they and their partners could not feel the ring during sex.
“Modeling studies showed that multiple prevention options are needed to end the HIV epidemic. Therefore, products like the ring could have a meaningful public health impact as part of a comprehensive prevention strategy.
“If approved and successfully rolled out, the ring would expand choice and increase the number of women successfully using an HIV prevention method.
“New, women-centered options, such as the ring, are crucial to achieving HIV epidemic control,” she concluded.” She explained
Estimated reading time: 1 minute(s)
FOOTNOTE: Do you want to share a story with us? Do you want to advertise with us? Do you need publicity for a product, service, or event? Contact us on WhatsApp +2348183319097 or email: platformtimes@gmail.com