Abstract
Background Online sexually transmissible infection (STI) testing is increasingly available and has shown promising results across different settings. However, evidence on how stigma associated with STI testing may be experienced by youth in the context of these online services is limited. Methods: A convenience sample of 71 youth (aged 15-24 years) both male and female was engaged through online and offline recruitment strategies in Vancouver, Canada. Through semistructured and exploratory interviews, participants were asked about their perceptions of stigma associated with STI testing in an online testing environment. Data were analysed using a thematic analysis approach. Results: Youth came from a diverse set of sociodemographic backgrounds and most (n≤46, 65%) had previously accessed STI testing in clinic-based settings. Participants' perceptions pointed to the benefits of online testing for reducing the external stigma despite the potential persistence of internalised stigma. Notions of hegemonic masculinity and emphasised femininity were also present in the participants' descriptions of the role of gender in accessing online STI testing. Conclusions: Online STI testing could potentially ameliorate the experiences of participants in regards to the stigma associated with STI testing; however, participants' internalised feelings of shame and stigma around testing for STI may continue to persist. Our findings underscore the need to revisit and re-evaluate existing STI testing services to provide less anxiety-inducing testing environments for youth.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 46-53 |
| Number of pages | 8 |
| Journal | Sexual Health |
| Volume | 15 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2018 |
| Externally published | Yes |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:A total of 71 participants (15–24 years old) were recruited through the use of online (e.g. postings to youth list-serves and advertisements on online forums such as Facebook) and offline (e.g. posters and pamphlets in community venues, college campuses and sexual health clinics) recruitment strategies. We used a stratified purposive sampling strategy25 to deliberately recruit young men and women from a variety of sociocultural backgrounds with various previous experiences with STI testing. Prospective participants contacted our office by phone or email and were screened for eligibility based on the following criteria: (i) age 15–24 years; (ii) English speaking; (iii) residing in metro Vancouver; (iv) self-identified as currently or previously sexually active; and (v) had previously had or considered having STI testing. Participants who met the eligibility requirements were invited for a 60–90-min semistructured, exploratory individual interview which took place in a private office at the university. Participants received a CAD25 honorarium to compensate them for their participation. This study was reviewed and approved by the University of British Columbia’s Behavioural Research Ethics Board and funded by the Canadian Institute of Health Research (grant number MOP-106440).
Publisher Copyright:
© CSIRO 2018.
ASJC Scopus Subject Areas
- Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
- Infectious Diseases
