Table 1.
Demographic, Contraceptive, and Behavioral Characteristics of the Study Population (N = 121)
| Characteristic | Total (N = 121) |
StepUpa (n = 49) |
SToPBV (n = 72) |
P Valueb |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Characteristics reported at baseline | ||||
| Age, y, median (IQR) | 28 (25–32) | 29 (26–33) | 28 (24–30) | .064 |
| Region of birth | ||||
| Australia/New Zealand | 56 (46) | 25 (51) | 31 (43) | .960 |
| Asia | 27 (22) | 11 (22) | 16 (22) | |
| Europe | 29 (24) | 10 (20) | 19 (26) | |
| Middle East or Africa | 3 (2) | 1 (2) | 2 (3) | |
| North America | 3 (2) | 1 (2) | 2 (3) | |
| South America | 3 (2) | 1 (2) | 2 (3) | |
| Past history of BV | ||||
| No | 32 (26) | 9 (18) | 23 (32) | .096 |
| Yes | 89 (74) | 40 (82) | 49 (68) | |
| Any hormonal contraceptive use | ||||
| No | 95 (79) | 23 (47) | 72 (100) | <.001 |
| Yes | 26 (21) | 26 (53)c | 0 (0) | |
| Any IUD use | ||||
| No | 108 (89) | 36 (73) | 72 (100) | <.001 |
| Yes | 13 (11) | 13 (27)d | 0 (0) | |
| Any smoking | ||||
| No | 75 (63) | 38 (79) | 37 (51) | .002 |
| Yes | 45 (38) | 10 (21) | 35 (49) | |
| Lifetime No. of male partners, median (IQR) | 15 (7–25) | 15 (7–30) | 15 (7–23) | .547 |
| Lifetime No. of female partners, median (IQR) | 0 (0–1) | 0 (0–0) | 0 (0–2) | .328 |
| Current RSP | ||||
| No | 34 (28) | 0 (0) | 34 (47) | <.001 |
| Yese | 87 (72) | 49 (100) | 38 (53) | |
| Characteristics between day 0 and study endpoint | ||||
| Any hormonal contraceptive use | ||||
| No | 64 (53) | 23 (47) | 41 (57) | .279 |
| Yes | 57 (47) | 26 (53) | 31 (43) | |
| Any smoking | ||||
| No | 76 (63) | 38 (79) | 38 (53) | .003 |
| Yes | 44 (37) | 10 (21) | 34 (47) | |
| Any penile–vaginal sex | ||||
| No | 29 (24) | 2 (4) | 27 (37.5) | <.001 |
| Yes | 92 (76) | 47 (96) | 45 (62.5) | |
| Condom use for penile–vaginal sex | ||||
| Always/no penile–vaginal sex | 44 (36) | 2 (4) | 42 (58) | <.001 |
| Not always | 77 (64) | 47 (96) | 30 (42) | |
| Any receptive oral sex | ||||
| No | 47 (39) | 11 (22) | 36 (50) | .002 |
| Yes | 74 (61) | 38 (78) | 36 (50) | |
| Any anal sex | ||||
| No | 105 (87) | 41 (84) | 64 (89) | .406 |
| Yes | 16 (13) | 8 (16) | 8 (11) | |
| Any sex with RSP | ||||
| No | 47 (39) | 3 (6) | 44 (61) | <.001 |
| Yes | 74 (61) | 46 (94) | 28 (39) | |
| Any new sexual partner | ||||
| No | 98 (81) | 47 (96) | 51 (71) | <.001 |
| Yes | 23 (19) | 2 (4) | 21 (29) | |
| Gender of sexual partner(s) during follow-up | ||||
| Male | 91 (91) | 48 (98) | 43 (84) | .051 |
| Female | 4 (4) | 0 | 4 (8) | |
| Male and female | 1 (2) | 1 (2) | 4 (8) | |
Data are presented as No. (%) unless otherwise indicated. Missing data from up to 9 women for some variables. P values <.05 are bolded to indicate statistically significant associations.
Abbreviations: BV, bacterial vaginosis; IQR, interquartile range; IUD, intrauterine device; RSP, regular sexual partner; SToPBV, Strategies to prevent BV.
Women from StepUp-1 and StepUp-2 were combined as the eligibility criteria applied in these studies were identical and participant characteristics did not differ between the 2 studies.
The χ2 or Fisher exact test was used for categorical data, and Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used for continuous variables to examine differences between StepUp and SToPBV participants.
At baseline, 13 women reported current oral contraceptive use, 6 reported using a levonorgestrel IUD, 6 reported using a contraceptive implant, and 1 reported using a hormonal injection (Depo-Provera).
At baseline, 6 women reported using a levonorgestrel IUD and 7 women reported using a copper IUD.
Four women in SToPBV reported a female RSP at baseline; all other women reported a male RSP.