The future of STI screening and treatment for youth: a National Survey of youth perspectives and intentions

Vinaya Gogineni,Okeoma O Mmeje,Jasmine A Bell,Nicole Hadler,Marika E Waselewski,Kiren A Chaudhry,Cornelius D Jamison,Tammy Chang

doi:10.1186/s12889-021-12091-y

Vinaya Gogineni, Okeoma O Mmeje + Show 6 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-021-12091-y

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Abstract

BackgroundSexually transmitted infection (STI) rates continue to rise in the U.S., with disproportionately high rates among those aged 15–24 years. Effective programs and policies are necessary to address this growing public health problem. The purpose of this study is to assess the perspectives of a national sample of youth on access to STI care and behaviors regarding STIs.MethodsMyVoice, a national text message survey of youth, was used to pose four open-ended questions on STI screening and treatment to 1115 youth aged 14–24 in August 2018. A mixed-methods strategy was employed for the study. Qualitative data was analyzed using a modified grounded theory approach. Summary statistics were calculated for demographic data and prevalence of themes.ResultsOf the 800 participants who responded to at least one question (72% response rate), mean age was 19 years (SD = 3.1), 55% identified as female, 61% identified as non-Hispanic white, and 33% qualified for free/reduced lunch. A majority felt it would be easy to get screened (69%) or treated (68%) for an STI. Nearly all respondents (95%) stated they would share an STI diagnosis with their sexual partners.ConclusionsDespite high rates of STIs among youth, most respondents reported that STI screening and treatment is accessible, and they would share an STI diagnosis with their partner.

Highlights

Transmitted infection (STI) rates continue to rise in the U.S, with disproportionately high rates among those aged 15–24 years
Sexually transmitted infection (STI) screening was reported to be accessible by the majority of respondents primarily because “there are a lot of ways that you are able to get tested whether it be at the doctor or at a clinic” and “the doctor [is] close by and I believe testing is very cheap.”
A few respondents (n = 10) who believed they were not at risk or did not have STIs stated that “It wouldn’t be hard for me to get tested because I know I do not have chlamydia or gonorrhea.”. For those who expressed difficulty in obtaining testing (21%), the most common reason was due to their minor status (37%) because they had “been told by doctors in the past that they don’t know how STI tests show up on bills and my parents would be very upset to learn I was having sex.”

Summary

Introduction

Transmitted infection (STI) rates continue to rise in the U.S, with disproportionately high rates among those aged 15–24 years. The purpose of this study is to assess the perspectives of a national sample of youth on access to STI care and behaviors regarding STIs. The continuous rise in sexually transmitted infections (STIs), among youth, raises concerns for the U.S population’s reproductive health outcomes. There is currently a lack of research that addresses youthspecific STI interventions [2]. This gap in literature introduces an opportunity for our study to provide new insight on youth perceptions of STI testing and treatment, access to care, and notification of partners

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