COMMUNITY PERSPECTIVES ON DEVELOPING AN EDUCATIONAL CAMPAIGN TO IMPROVE SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED INFECTION (STI) PREVENTION KNOWLEDGE AND ACCESS TO STI TESTING AMONG SUBURBAN YOUTH

• Published in: Journal of adolescent health Vol. 64; no. 2S; p. S131
• Main Authors: Dougé, Jacqueline, Trent, Maria, Liebow, Elisabeth, Wagaman, Kerrie, Blount, Shannon, Gay, Jessica
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Elsevier BV 01.02.2019
• Subjects: Access to information; Adolescents; Campaigns; Chlamydia trachomatis; Community; Confidentiality; Embarrassment; Fear & phobias; Gonorrhea; Health care access; Health disparities; Health education; Health information; Health services; Infections; Medical screening; Primary care; Public health; Reproductive health; Resistance; Sexual health; Sexually transmitted diseases; STD; Websites
• ISSN: 1054-139X; 1879-1972

Purpose: Limited information is available on how adolescents in suburban communities access sexual and reproductive health services for STI prevention and testing. Preliminary data suggests that adolescents in suburban communities face significant disparities in access to services due to community resistance and providers not offering office based STI testing. The aim of this study is to explore the perceived access and needs for STI-related health information and services to identify optimal strategies to expand access to information and services for suburban youth. Methods: This study was conducted in Howard County, Maryland, one of the wealthiest and most racially and ethnically diverse counties in America situated in the Washington, DC and Baltimore, MD suburbs. Howard County youth ages 15-24 account for the majority of Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) and Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG) infections in Howard County and the rates of CT and NG have grown steadily over the last decade. We conducted five qualitative focus groups from April 2018-June 2018 that included Howard County adolescents ages 13-18 years (20), parents of adolescents ages 13-18 (2) and college students ages 18-24 (8). A thematic analysis of focus group responses was completed and focused on content areas for programmatic development for public health intervention. The themes included sources of STI information, preferences for receipt of STI-related health information, the desired content and sources for STI-related health information, perceived access to STI screening services, and barriers to receiving STI-related health information and STI screening services. Results: Howard County youth ages 13-24 report receipt of STI-related health information from multiple sources that include parents, school health classes, health care providers, and internet searches Youth would like to receive information in school settings and from their primary care providers. They would also like to have their primary care provider talk with them more about STI-prevention and routinely offer STI screening during routine visits. Barriers for youth in looking for STI information and screening included worries about confidentiality, cost of services, parents, fear and embarrassment. Youth would like screenings provided in schools as long as there was no cost and services were confidential. Parents felt that they were most comfortable with their children asking them sexual health questions, but would also like schools and health care providers to provide sexual health information. Parents also indicated comfort with health care providers offering STI screening in addition to information. Conclusions: Suburban adolescents and parents from the target community want more resources to help learn more about STI prevention, testing and treatment. The information provided must be presented in multiple ways such as posters, websites and phone apps and include how to access screening sites that will provide free and confidential services.