Journal of Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology
Volume 21, Issue 4 , Pages 187-193, August 2008

Young Women's Perspective of the Pros and Cons to Seeking Screening for Chlamydia and Gonorrhea: An Exploratory Study

  • Mariam R. Chacko, MD

      Affiliations

    • Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, Texas
    • Corresponding Author InformationAddress correspondence to: Mariam R. Chacko, MD, Texas Children's Hospital, Clinical Care Center, 6621 Fannin Street, CC 1710.01, Houston, TX 77030
    • ,
  • Kirk von Sternberg, PhD

      Affiliations

    • University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
    • ,
  • Mary M. Velasquez, PhD

      Affiliations

    • University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
    • ,
  • Constance M. Wiemann, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, Texas
    • ,
  • Peggy B. Smith, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, Texas
    • ,
  • Ralph DiClemente, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA

Abstract 

Study Objective

To identify young women's pros and cons (decisional balance) to seeking chlamydia (CT) and gonorrhea (NGC) screening.

Design

Prospective, cross sectional study

Setting

Community-based reproductive health clinic

Participants

192 young women (66% African American; mean age 18.9 years).

Main Outcome Measures

Content analysis of responses obtained during a decisional balance exercise (pros and cons) promoting CT and NGC screening was conducted. Thematic categories were developed through a coding process, and each response was assigned to one thematic category. The frequency of pros and cons responses for each category and the frequency of participants endorsing each category were calculated.

Results

Ten thematic categories in relation to pros and cons of seeking CT and NGC screening were: being healthy; awareness of the body; systemic factors around the clinic visit and testing procedures; benefits and aversions around treatment; partner trust issues; confidentiality; prevention of long term adverse effects, protection of the body; concern for others; fear of results/aversion to testing; and logistical barriers. The three most often cited pros were awareness of the body, being healthy and treatment issues; and the three most often cited cons were logistical barriers (time/transportation), fear/aversion to testing, and systemic factors.

Conclusions

A variety of pros and cons to seeking CT and NGC screening were identified at a community-based clinic. Providers in clinical settings can utilize this information when encouraging patients to seek regular STI screening by elucidating and emphasizing those pros and cons that have the most influence on a young woman's decision-making to seek screening.

Key Words: Chlamydia, STI screening, Chlamydia screening, Gonorrhea screening, Decisional balance, Decisional balance and STI screening, Transtheoretical model and STI screening

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 von Sternberg and Velasquez are now at University of Texas Health Science Center at Austin.

PII: S1083-3188(07)00292-6

doi:10.1016/j.jpag.2007.08.009

Journal of Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology
Volume 21, Issue 4 , Pages 187-193, August 2008

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