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Sexual behaviour, sexually transmitted infections and attitudes to chlamydia testing among a unique national sample of young Australians: baseline data from a randomised controlled trial
- Source :
- BMC Public Health
- Publication Year :
- 2014
- Publisher :
- Springer Science and Business Media LLC, 2014.
-
Abstract
- Background Chlamydia infection is the most common notifiable sexually transmitted infection (STI) in Australia and mostly affects young people (15 – 25 years). This paper presents baseline data from a randomised controlled trial that aimed to increase chlamydia testing among sexually active young people. The objectives were to identify associations between sexual behaviour, substance use and STI history and explore attitudes to chlamydia testing. Methods This study was conducted in cyberspace. Study recruitment, allocation, delivery of interventions and baseline and follow up data collection all took place online. Participants were 16 – 25 years old and resided in Australia. Substance use correlates of sexual activity; predictors of history of STIs; barriers to and facilitators of chlamydia testing were analysed. Results Of 856 participants (79.1% female), 704 had experienced penetrative intercourse. Sexually active participants were more likely to smoke regularly or daily, to drink alcohol, or to have binge drunk or used marijuana or other illicit substances recently. Risk factors for having a history of any STI were 3 or more sexual partners ever, 6 or more partners in the past 12 months, condom non-use and being 20 years or older. Almost all sexually active participants said that they would have a chlamydia test if their doctor recommended it. Conclusions Sexually active young people are at risk of STIs and may engage in substance use risk behaviours. Where one health risk behaviour is identified, it is important to seek information about others. Chlamydia testing can be facilitated by doctors and nurses recommending it. Primary care providers have a useful role in chlamydia control. Trial Registration Australian and New Zealand Trials Registry ACTRN12607000582459
- Subjects :
- Questionnaires
Adult
Male
Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
Pediatrics
medicine.medical_specialty
Adolescent
Substance-Related Disorders
Health risk behaviour
Sexual Behavior
Sexually Transmitted Diseases
Psychological intervention
Adolescents
urologic and male genital diseases
law.invention
Young Adult
Risk-Taking
Condom
Randomized controlled trial
law
Surveys and Questionnaires
Epidemiology
Sexually transmitted infections
medicine
Humans
Chlamydia
Young adult
Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
business.industry
Public health
Australia
Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
Chlamydia Infections
medicine.disease
female genital diseases and pregnancy complications
Family medicine
Young people
Female
Public Health
Biostatistics
business
Research Article
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 14712458
- Volume :
- 14
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- BMC Public Health
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....94b5b724724b4151c818c07f290eb35b