STD-related care seeking among adolescents in Baltimore

描述(由申请人提供)：寻求性传播疾病(STDS)筛查和治疗的延误是一个严重的公共卫生问题。延误医疗护理的个人更有可能将感染传播给其他人，感染艾滋病毒的风险增加，并有更大可能出现不良后遗症。有几项研究考察了青少年的性病相关寻求护理行为，其中一项研究显示，有症状的女性比无症状的女性和有症状的男性延迟寻求性病相关护理的时间要长得多。这项研究的目的是调查与马里兰州巴尔的摩15-24岁年轻女性的性病相关寻求护理行为相关的个人、关系和环境因素。其具体目的是：1)探索与年轻女性发现症状的能力有关的因素以及她们用来描述这些症状的术语；2)确定年轻女性通常采取的应对STD症状的行动类型以及影响年轻女性与STD相关的求医行为的因素；以及3)确定影响年轻女性决定与其性伴侣讨论STD症状和/或诊断的因素。本研究将采用定性和定量相结合的方法来回答研究目标。对于目标1，将与淋病或衣原体检测呈阳性的男性的伴侣的女性青少年进行深入访谈。对于AIMS 2和AIMS 3，将在居住在马里兰州巴尔的摩市的具有代表性的青少年样本中进行纵向家庭调查。对这些过程的更好理解将有助于项目规划者开发更有效的预防和控制服务。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Delay in seeking screening and obtaining treatment for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) presents a significant public health problem. Individuals who delay medical care are more likely to transmit the infection to others, are at increased risk for HIV and a have a greater probability of adverse sequelae. One of a few studies that examined adolescents' STD-related care seeking behavior revealed that symptomatic females delayed seeking STD-related care significantly longer than both asymptomatic females and symptomatic males. The objective of this study is to examine the individual, relational and environmental factors associated with STD-related care seeking behavior among young women ages 15-24 in Baltimore, Maryland. The specific aims are to: 1) explore the factors associated with young women's ability to detect symptoms and the terms they employ to describe these symptoms; 2) determine the types of actions young women typically take to address STD symptoms and the factors that influence young women's STD-related care seeking behavior; and 3) determine the factors that influence young women's decision to discuss STD symptoms and/or diagnoses with their sexual partners. Both qualitative and quantitative methods will be used to answer the study aims. For Aim 1, in-depth interviews will be held with female adolescents who are the partners of males who have tested positive for gonorrhea or chlamydia. For Aims 2 and 3, a longitudinal household based survey among a representative sample of adolescents residing in Baltimore city, Maryland will be conducted. A greater understanding of these processes will assist program planners in the development of more effective prevention and control services.