Association between sexually transmissible infection testing, numbers of partners and talking to partners and friends about sexual health: survey of young adults
Natalie A. Hendry A B , Graham Brown A C D E , Gary W. Dowsett A D and Marina Carman AA Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society, La Trobe University, 215 Franklin Street, Melbourne, Vic. 3000, Australia.
B School of Education, Faculty of Arts and Education, Deakin University, 1 Gheringhap Street, Geelong, Vic. 3220, Australia.
C Collaboration for Evidence, Research and Impact in Public Health, Curtin University, Kent Street, Bentley, Perth, WA 6102, Australia.
D Centre for Social Research in Health, University of New South Wales, High Street, Kensington, NSW 2052, Australia.
E Corresponding author. Email: graham.brown@latrobe.edu.au
Sexual Health 14(4) 378-382 https://doi.org/10.1071/SH16076
Submitted: 10 May 2016 Accepted: 6 April 2017 Published: 22 June 2017
Abstract
Background: Young adults, aged 18–30 years, comprise the largest proportion of sexually transmissible infection (STI) notifications in Australia compared with other age groups. Understanding the influence of partner and friendship networks on their STI testing practices may enhance health promotion efforts to increase testing for this group. Method: Participants aged 21–30 years, living in Australia for ≥3 years, were recruited within nightlife precincts in Melbourne, Australia. They completed a survey on demographic items, sexual health attitudes, sexual health knowledge and STI testing experiences and perceptions. Responses to items related to talking to partners and friends about STI testing were allocated partner and friend communication scores. Analyses included χ2 tests of independence and independent sample t-tests. Results: Overall, 36.5% (61/167) of participants had tested for STIs in the previous 12 months. Of those who had tested for STIs, most had significantly higher numbers of sexual partners in the same period (P < 0.05), and were significantly more likely to have felt at risk of STI acquisition (P < 0.05). Significantly greater mean partner and friend communication scores were associated with higher numbers of sexual partners, feeling at risk of STIs, and testing for STIs in the previous 12 months (all P < 0.05). There were no significant differences when participants were stratified by gender or age. Conclusion: Talking to partners and friends about STI testing is associated with testing rates for young adults. Feeling at risk and increased numbers of sexual partners may be associated with the promotion of STI testing among friends and partners.
Additional keywords: communication, health promotion, sexual behaviours, sexual health, young people.
References
[1] The Kirby Institute. HIV, viral hepatitis and sexually transmissible infections in Australia: annual surveillance report 2015. Sydney: The Kirby Institute, University of NSW; 2015.[2] Centres for Disease Control and Prevention. Sexually transmitted disease surveillance 2011 report. Atlanta: Department of Health and Human Services; 2012.
[3] Health Protection Agency. Sexually transmitted infections and young people in the United Kingdom: 2008 report. London: Centre for Infections; 2008.
[4] Public Health Agency of Canada. Report on sexually transmitted infections in Canada: 2008. Ottawa: Centre for Communicable Diseases and Infection Control; 2008.
[5] The Institute of Environmental Science and Research Ltd. Sexually transmitted infections in New Zealand: annual surveillance report 2012. Porirua: Ministry of Health; 2012.
[6] Grulich AE, de Visser RO, Badcock PB, Smith AMA, Richters J, Rissel C, Simpson JM. Knowledge about and experience of sexually transmissible infections in a representative sample of adults: the Second Australian Study of Health and Relationships. Sex Health 2014; 11 481–94.
| Knowledge about and experience of sexually transmissible infections in a representative sample of adults: the Second Australian Study of Health and Relationships.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
[7] The Kirby Institute. National blood-borne virus and sexually transmissible infections surveillance and monitoring report, 2013. Sydney: The Kirby Institute, University of NSW; 2013.
[8] Commonwealth of Australia. Third National Sexually Transmissible Infections Strategy 2014–2017. Canberra: Department of Health and Ageing; 2014.
[9] Hendry NA, Brown G, Johnston K, Dowsett GW. Beyond high school: what do we know about young adults’ social and sexual contexts? Literature review and study opportunities. Melbourne: Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society, La Trobe University; 2013.
[10] Young RA, Marshall SK, Valach L, Domene J, Graham MD, Zaidman-Zait A. Transition to adulthood: introduction. In Young RA, editor. Transition to adulthood: action, projects, and counseling. New York: Springer; 2011. pp. 1–9.
[11] Brown G, Croy S, Johnston K, Pitts MK, Lewis V. Rapid review: reducing sexually transmitted infections in young people. A project report prepared for the Victorian Department of Health. Melbourne: Victorian Government Department of Health; 2013.
[12] Balfe M, Brugha R. What prompts young adults in Ireland to attend health services for STI testing? BMC Public Health 2009; 9 311
| What prompts young adults in Ireland to attend health services for STI testing?Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
[13] Ewert C, Collyer A, Temple-Smith M. “Most young men think you have to be naked in front of the GP”: a qualitative study of male university students’ views on barriers to sexual health. Sex Health 2016; 13 124–30.
| “Most young men think you have to be naked in front of the GP”: a qualitative study of male university students’ views on barriers to sexual health.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
[14] Richardson D, Maple K, Perry N, Ambler E, Jurd C, Fisher M. A pilot qualitative analysis of the psychosocial factors which drive young people to decline chlamydia testing in the UK: implications for health promotion and screening. Int J STD AIDS 2010; 21 187–90.
| A pilot qualitative analysis of the psychosocial factors which drive young people to decline chlamydia testing in the UK: implications for health promotion and screening.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DC%2BC3c7ntV2gsg%3D%3D&md5=a84a9c7db0a9d737f41a9164b632c376CAS |
[15] Woodhall SC, Atkins JL, Soldan K, Hughes G, Bone A, Gill ON. Repeat genital Chlamydia trachomatis testing rates in young adults in England, 2010. Sex Transm Infect 2013; 89 51–6.
| Repeat genital Chlamydia trachomatis testing rates in young adults in England, 2010.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
[16] de Visser RO, O’Neill N. Identifying and understanding barriers to sexually transmissible infection testing among young people. Sex Health 2013; 10 553–8.
| Identifying and understanding barriers to sexually transmissible infection testing among young people.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
[17] Fenton KA, Korovessis C, Johnson AM, McCadden A, McManus S, Wellings K, Mercer CH, Copas AJ, Nanchahal K, Macdowall W, Ridgway G, Field J, Erens B. Sexual behaviour in Britain: reported sexually transmitted infections and prevalent genital Chlamydia trachomatis infection. Lancet 2001; 358 1851–4.
| Sexual behaviour in Britain: reported sexually transmitted infections and prevalent genital Chlamydia trachomatis infection.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DC%2BD3MjgtVCmug%3D%3D&md5=f0299111b6be164a5e94201a8648a812CAS |
[18] Hocking JS, Spark S, Guy R, Temple-Smith M, Fairley CK, Kaldor J, Donovan B, Law M, Gunn J, Low N, , ACCEPt Consortium O8. The Australian chlamydia control effectiveness pilot (ACCEPt): first results from a randomised trial of annual chlamydia screening in general practice. Sex Transm Infect 2012; 88 A3–4.
| O8. The Australian chlamydia control effectiveness pilot (ACCEPt): first results from a randomised trial of annual chlamydia screening in general practice.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
[19] Ali H, Donovan B, Wand H, Read TRH, Regan DG, Grulich AE, Fairley CK, Guy RJ. Genital warts in young Australians five years into national human papillomavirus vaccination programme: national surveillance data. BMJ 2013; 346 f2032
| Genital warts in young Australians five years into national human papillomavirus vaccination programme: national surveillance data.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
[20] Read TRH, Hocking JS, Chen MY, Donovan B, Bradshaw CS, Fairley CK. The near disappearance of genital warts in young women 4 years after commencing a national human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination programme. Sex Transm Infect 2011; 87 544–7.
| The near disappearance of genital warts in young women 4 years after commencing a national human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination programme.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
[21] Gold J, Goller J, Hellard M, Lim MSC, Hocking J, Fairley CK, Spelman T, McNamee K, Clift P, Guy R. Impact evaluation of a youth sexually transmissible infection awareness campaign using routinely collected data sources. Sex Health 2011; 8 234–41.
| Impact evaluation of a youth sexually transmissible infection awareness campaign using routinely collected data sources.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
[22] Stancombe Research & Planning. Quantitative research report: measuring awareness and attitudes among young Australians towards STIs, including HIV/AIDS. Paddington: Stancombe Research and Planning for the Commonwealth Department of Ageing; 2009.
[23] Stancombe Research and Planning. Formative research for the National Sexually Transmitted Infections (including HIV/AIDS) Prevention Program. Paddington: Stancombe Research and Planning for the Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing; 2008.
[24] Chen MY, Karvelas M, Sundararajan V, Hocking JS, Fairley CK. Evidence for the effectiveness of a chlamydia awareness campaign: increased population rates of chlamydia testing and detection. Int J STD AIDS 2007; 18 239–43.
| Evidence for the effectiveness of a chlamydia awareness campaign: increased population rates of chlamydia testing and detection.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
[25] de Visser RO, Smith AMA, Richters J. Can we generalise to other young people from studies of sexual risk behaviour among university students? Aust N Z J Public Health 2005; 29 436–41.
| Can we generalise to other young people from studies of sexual risk behaviour among university students?Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
[26] Byron P. Troubling expertise: social media and young people’s sexual health. Comm Res Pract 2015; 1 322–34.
[27] Harper GW, Dolcini MM, Benhorin S, Watson SE, Boyer CB. The benefits of a friendship-based HIV/STI prevention intervention for African American youth. Youth Soc 2014; 46 591–622.
| The benefits of a friendship-based HIV/STI prevention intervention for African American youth.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
