Identifying and understanding barriers to sexually transmissible infection testing among young people
Richard Oliver de Visser A C and Nancy O’Neill BA School of Psychology, University of Sussex, Falmer BN1 9QH, United Kingdom.
B Brighton & Sussex Medical School, Falmer BN1 9PX, United Kingdom.
C Corresponding author. Email: rd48@sussex.ac.uk
Sexual Health 10(6) 553-558 https://doi.org/10.1071/SH13034
Submitted: 15 March 2013 Accepted: 1 October 2013 Published: 28 October 2013
Abstract
Background: To counter the disproportionate impact of sexually transmissible infections (STIs) among young people and encourage higher levels of STI testing, it is necessary to identify the factors that influence STI testing. Methods: A mixed-methods study incorporating a cross-sectional quantitative survey and qualitative analysis of individual interviews was conducted in England. Some 275 university students aged 17–25 years completed an online questionnaire. Interviews were conducted with a purposively selected sample of eight men and women. Results: Multivariate analysis of quantitative data revealed that injunctive norms (i.e. a desire to comply with others’ wishes for testing), descriptive norms (i.e. perceptions of others’ behaviour) and shame related to STIs predicted past testing behaviour. Intention to undergo testing was predicted by greater perceived susceptibility, past testing, stronger injunctive norms and greater willingness to disclose sexual histories. Qualitative analysis of interview data confirmed the importance of perceived susceptibility, normative beliefs, stigma and shame, and perceived ease of testing. Conclusions: To increase STI testing among young people, there is a need to promote pro-testing norms, address low perceived susceptibility and make testing easier.
Additional keywords: attitudes, beliefs, intentions, norms, stigma, theory of planned behaviour.
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