Aboriginal women's stories of sexually transmissible infection transmission and condom use in remote central Australia

Sexual Health ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 237 ◽  
Author(s):  
Astrid M. Stark ◽  
Alex Hope
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Research ◽  
Sexual Assault ◽  
Sexual Health ◽  
Condom Use ◽  
Aboriginal People ◽  
Sociocultural Context ◽  
Perception Of Risk ◽  
Central Australia ◽  
Sexually Transmissible Infection ◽  
Transmissible Infection

Background: Sexually transmissible infection (STI) rates are persistently high in central Australia, creating conditions for a potential HIV pandemic in the area. There is a shortage of qualitative research examining the underlying factors affecting STI transmission in this region. The present study investigates Aboriginal women’s current levels of knowledge regarding STI and their transmission, perception of risk for STI, patterns of condom use, access to condoms and experiences of condom negotiation with their partners. It also explores the sociocultural context of their sexual health. Methods: The present study used qualitative methods with a semistructured questionnaire. Twenty-four women aged 18–35 years from one remote central-Australian Aboriginal community were recruited. Results: The results revealed poor understandings of STI transmission, limited access to condoms and low levels of condom use despite a high perception of risk to STI. They also identified specific issues facing these women regarding the sociocultural context of their condom use, their access to condoms and the transmission of STI. The perceived effects of alcohol abuse, infidelity, sexual assault and shame on the acquisition of STI were significant issues for the women. Conclusion: This research has identified an urgent need for further qualitative research into the sociocultural factors that facilitate the spread of STI among Aboriginal people of remote central Australia. Implications include the need to increase their knowledge regarding STI and STI transmission, to increase women’s access to condoms and to incorporate the teaching of skills to deal with sexual assault and violence into sexual-health education.

Men, bodily change and urethritis: a qualitative study

Sexual Health ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 25 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. K. Pitts ◽  
A. M. A Smith ◽  
A. Mischewski ◽  
C. Fairley
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Sexual Health ◽  
Visual Cues ◽  
Health Centre ◽  
Urban Setting ◽  
Ability To Act ◽  
Sexually Transmissible Infection ◽  
Transmissible Infection ◽  
Visual Changes ◽  
The Way

Objectives: To describe how men narrate the process of bodily change as a trigger to presentation for a suspected sexually transmissible infection. Methods: The study was qualitative with 18 men presenting at a specialist sexual health centre in an urban setting. Results: All men gave narratives that included accounts of bodily changes prior to presentation. The nature, severity and persistence of those changes were unrelated to subsequent diagnosis. Men responded particularly to visual changes as cues to action. Conclusions: The men exhibited limited skills in understanding the significance and the specifics of bodily change as they may relate to a sexually transmissible infection. While these men identified a broad range of changes as potentially indicative of a sexually transmissible infection, their ability to act on visceral rather than visual cues appears constrained in that they were less able to respond to the feel of their body than the way that it looked.

Implications of HIV self-testing for other sexually transmissible infection testing and broader sexual health needs

2020 ◽  
Vol Publish Ahead of Print ◽  
Author(s):  
David Leitinger ◽  
Kathleen Ryan ◽  
Anna Lee Wilkinson ◽  
Alisa Pedrana ◽  
Margaret Hellard ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Health ◽  
Health Needs ◽  
Self Testing ◽  
Sexually Transmissible Infection ◽  
Transmissible Infection

scholarly journals Decision making over condom use during menses to avert sexually transmissible infections

Sexual Health ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 90
Author(s):  
Richard A. Crosby ◽  
Cynthia A. Graham ◽  
Stephanie A. Sanders ◽  
William L. Yarber ◽  
Marija V. Wheeler ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Condom Use ◽  
Structural Level ◽  
Significant Finding ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Sexually Transmissible Infections ◽  
Independent Decision ◽  
Sexually Transmissible Infection ◽  
Transmissible Infection ◽  
Do So

Background The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that receptive partners in penile–vaginal intercourse (PVI) who exercise independent decision making over condom use during menses do so to avert sexually transmissible infection (STI) transmission or acquisition. Methods: Data were collected through a partnership with Clue, the industry-leading female health app. A brief web-based questionnaire was developed, translated into 10 languages, and made accessible via a URL link sent to Clue users and posted on social media. Inclusion criteria were: age ≥14 years, not being currently pregnant and engaging in PVI and condom use during menses in the past 3 months. The analytical subsample comprised 12889 respondents residing in 146 countries. Results: Twenty per cent indicated independent decision making about condom use during menses. Independent decision making was associated with lower odds of reporting that condoms were used for contraception (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 0.65; 99% confidence interval (CI) 0.57–0.73) and higher odds that they were used for the prevention of STIs (aOR 1.44; 99% CI 1.28–1.61). A third significant finding pertained to always using condoms during menses; this was less likely among those indicating independent (female only) decision making (aOR 0.69; 99% CI 0.62–0.78). Non-significant associations with another two outcomes were found: protecting the partner against menstrual blood and protecting themselves against semen. Conclusions: Findings from people in 146 countries strongly support the hypothesis that those exercising independent decision making over condom use during menses do so to avert STI transmission or acquisition. That only one-fifth of this global sample reported this type of independent decision making suggests that empowerment-oriented (structural-level) interventions may be advantageous for individuals who are the receptive partner in PVI that occurs during menses.

Pending research issues in male condom use promotion

Sexual Health ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 317 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard Crosby ◽  
Lee Warner
Keyword(s):  
Condom Use ◽  
Effective Means ◽  
Sufficient Evidence ◽  
Human Papillomavirus Vaccination ◽  
Vaginal Microbicides ◽  
Research Issues ◽  
Protective Behaviour ◽  
Mass Marketing ◽  
Sexually Transmissible Infection ◽  
Transmissible Infection

Sufficient evidence has accumulated to warrant the expansion of condom use research in several additional directions. Possible risk compensation pertaining to human papillomavirus vaccination and vaginal microbicides is one example. A second area of needed research involves the question of when couples can be advised to safely discontinue condom use given that ‘lifelong’ condom use is not a realistic goal for most people. A third example is intensified research designed to identify more effective means of mass marketing condoms and their use as a health-protective behaviour. As the AIDS and sexually transmissible infection pandemics persist, intensified condom promotion research is an ethical imperative.

Association between sexually transmissible infection testing, numbers of partners and talking to partners and friends about sexual health: survey of young adults

Sexual Health ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 378 ◽  
Author(s):  
Natalie A. Hendry ◽  
Graham Brown ◽  
Gary W. Dowsett ◽  
Marina Carman
Keyword(s):  
At Risk ◽  
Young Adults ◽  
Sexual Health ◽  
Health Knowledge ◽  
Sexual Partners ◽  
Group Method ◽  
Friendship Networks ◽  
Sti Testing ◽  
Sexually Transmissible Infection ◽  
Transmissible Infection

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.

Advertising sexual health services that provide sexually transmissible infection screening for rural young people - what works and what doesn't

Sexual Health ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 407 ◽  
Author(s):  
Deepa G. Gamage ◽  
Candice A. Fuller ◽  
Rosey Cummings ◽  
Jane E. Tomnay ◽  
Mark Chung ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Young People ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Sexual Health ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Health Centre ◽  
What Works ◽  
Web Advertisement ◽  
Sexually Transmissible Infection ◽  
Transmissible Infection

Background ‘TESTme’ is a sexually transmissible infection (STI) screening service for Victorian young people living in rural areas. We evaluated the effectiveness of advertising for this service over an 11-month pilot period. Methods: The advertising that was used included websites, a Facebook page, posters, flyers, business cards, wrist bands and professional development sessions for health nurses that occurred throughout the pilot period. We also used once-off methods including advertisements in newspapers, student diaries and short messages to mobile phones. Results: Twenty-eight clients had a consultation through TESTme. Twenty found the service through health professionals, six through the Melbourne Sexual Health Centre (MSHC) web page, one through the Facebook page and one through the student diary. The total direct costs incurred by the centre for advertising were $20 850. The advertising cost per client reached for each advertising method was $26 for health professionals, $80 for the MSHC web advertisement, $1408 for Facebook and $790 for the student diary. Other advertising methods cost $12 248 and did not attract any clients. Conclusion: Advertising STI health services for rural young people would be best to focus on referrals from other health services or health care websites.

Assortative sexual mixing patterns in male–female and male–male partnerships in Melbourne, Australia: implications for HIV and sexually transmissible infection transmission

Sexual Health ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 451 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric P. F. Chow ◽  
Tim R. H. Read ◽  
Matthew G. Law ◽  
Marcus Y. Chen ◽  
Catriona S. Bradshaw ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Condom Use ◽  
Health Centre ◽  
Rank Correlation ◽  
Risk Groups ◽  
Strong Positive Correlation ◽  
Limited Data ◽  
Spearman’S Rank Correlation ◽  
Mixing Patterns ◽  
Sexually Transmissible Infection ◽  
Transmissible Infection

Background: Assortative mixing patterns have become a new and important focus in HIV/sexually transmissible infection (STI) research in recent years. There are very limited data on sexual mixing patterns, particularly in an Australian population. Methods: Male–female and male–male partnerships attending the Melbourne Sexual Health Centre (MSHC) between 2011 and 2014 were included. Correlation of age between two individuals within a partnership was examined by using Spearman’s rank correlation. The Newman’s assortativity coefficient was used as an aggregate quantitative measurement of sexual mixing for number of partners and condom use. Results: 1165 male–female and 610 male–male partnerships were included in the analysis. There was a strong positive correlation of age in both male–female (rho = 0.709; P < 0.001) and male–male partnerships (rho = 0.553; P < 0.001). The assortative mixing pattern for number of partners was similar in male–female (r = 0.255; 95% CI: 0.221–0.289) and male–male partnerships (r = 0.264; 95% CI: 0.218–0.309). There was a stronger assortative mixing pattern for condom use in male–male (r = 0.517, 95% CI: 0.465–0.569) compared with male–female (r = 0.382; 95% CI: 0.353–0.412) partnerships. Conclusion: Male–female and male–male partnerships have a high assortativity mixing pattern for age, number of partners and condom use. The sexual mixing pattern is not purely assortative, and hence it may lead to increased HIV and STI transmission in certain risk groups.

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