New HIV Vaccine and Microbicide Advocacy Society (NHVMAS) says the Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) ring, also known as the dapivirine ring, can reduce HIV infection in women by 50 per cent.

PrEP is a drug people at risk of HIV take to prevent contracting the virus from sex or injection drug use.

NHVMAS executive director Florita Durueke disclosed this at an ongoing media training for female journalists on Monday in Lagos.

“During an open-label study, the ring can protect from HIV as high as 50 per cent,” she said.

She said though the national HIV prevalence is 1.4 per cent, the burden on women was higher.

Ms Durueke said those between the ages of 15 and 49 had a double chance of living with the virus compared to their male counterparts.

“Data shows that the HIV prevalence was the highest among females aged 35 to 39 years at 3.3 per cent and highest among males aged 50 to 54 years at 2.3 per cent,” noted the NHVMAS director. “The prevalence for young women is 1.3 per cent, but for the young men of the same age group, their prevalence is 0.4 per cent.”

Ms Durueke said if given the power to make the right choice in using PrEP, the outcomes would be different for women, describing the PrEP ring as a flexible vaginal ring made of silicone that slowly releases an Antiretroviral (ARV) drug called dapivirine over one month to reduce the risk of HIV infection.

“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 users,” she explained.

Ms Durueke said the dapivirine ring, developed by International Partnership for Microbicides (IPM) and approved by World Health Organisation (WHO) for 18 years and above, was easy, long-acting, private, and safe to use.

The PrEP ring can be inserted or removed by women without the help of a healthcare provider. It is easy to move around with and does not cause discomfort during sex. 

(NAN)