Paving the Path: Preparing for Microbicide Introduction—Report of a Qualitative Study in South Africa

With recently accelerated support for the development of microbicides to prevent HIV transmission and the urgency of the global AIDS epidemic, it is important to begin to identify strategies for introducing a microbicide once it is proven safe and effective and is approved for use. This report presents results from a qualitative study that explored a range of issues likely to influence microbicide introduction—positively or negatively—at three levels: community, health service, and policy. The study, which identified critical issues to be addressed in building support for microbicides and facilitating a smooth introduction, was conducted between September 2002 and September 2003 in Langa, a peri-urban site in the Western Cape Province of South Africa, and at national and provincial levels. Through in-depth interviews and focus group discussions, this study explored and identified issues that could facilitate or undermine access to and use of microbicides. Respondents included community members, health care providers and managers, provincial- and national-level government officials, and representatives from national and provincial nongovernmental organizations and health professional bodies that influence policy.