Search

© 2020 Journal Compilation Background: Understanding the factors influencing adolescents' relationship views is important because early romantic relationships often act as precursors for relationships in adulthood. This study sought to examine the types of relationship-focused content adolescents witness on social media and how they perceive its effect on their romantic relationship beliefs. Methods: Sixteen semistructured interviews were conducted with Australian adolescents aged 16-19 years who were purposively sampled from a larger longitudinal study. Interview transcripts were analysed qualitatively using constructivist grounded theory. Results: Participants described the types of romantic relationship portrayals they saw on social media, including relationship-focused trends like 'Relationship Goals' and 'Insta-Couples'. Participants explained their ability to identify incomplete and unrealistic relationship portrayals, as well as the pressure to share their relationships online in the same incomplete fashion. Views regarding the influence of social media were varied, but most believed social media relationship portrayals had some level of influence on young people's relationship views; some participants believed this occurred regardless of awareness of the incompleteness of the online portrayal. Conclusions: Although participant interview data revealed the pervasiveness of social media relationship portrayals, it also revealed the sophisticated capabilities of adolescents in critiquing online media portrayals.

Background Individuals who identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender or queer (GLBTQ) suffer higher rates of illness and morbidity compared with the general population but may experience significant barriers to accessing primary health care. Method: We used an online questionnaire to explore GLBTQ adults’ experiences of accessing primary health care in Australia. We developed the questionnaire in consultation with individuals who belonged to or worked closely with the GLBTQ community. Questions were open-ended and sought information about four topic areas: sexual identity and its meaning, utilisation of primary health care services, disclosure of sexual identity to primary care providers and experiences of accessing primary health care. Data were analysed by coding free-text responses into themes. Results: Ninety-nine valid responses were received. Participants were 18–60+ years old (modal age group: 20–29 years); 70% lived in cities. Of these, 49% identified as gay, 35% as lesbian, 13% as bisexual, 8% as queer and 3% as transgender. Some participants indicated more than one identity. GLBTQ-identifying adults often divided care, seeking different primary care services for different health concerns. Themes in relation to disclosure of sexual identity were: taking a rights-based position, experiences of homophobia and clinical context. Themes about access to primary health care were: diversity and heterogeneity, real or perceived discrimination, visual symbols and respect. Conclusion: Despite diversity, GLBTQ adults experience many barriers to accessing health care due to sexual identity. General practitioners and other primary health care providers have a role in ensuring equitable access to health care.

The objectives of this study were to examine the accessibility of public sexual health clinics (SHCs), identify the service preferences of clients and assess whether the services delivered by public SHCs were acceptable (suitable) to users’ expectations. Participants were adult clients attending public SHCs in 4 different geographical regions of New South Wales (NSW). A self completed anonymous questionnaire survey was employed in this study and the data was collected over a two week period per clinic. The overall participation rate was 89%. Three hundred and two clients participated of which 68.2% and 31.8% were males and females respectively. Geographical proximity to residence or work was the single most common reason cited to choose a particular clinic by all clients. The main source of information about public SHCs for young and middle aged clients was their personal contacts, whereas for older individuals it was health professional’s referral. Of the total sample, nearly 59% vs. 32% of clients used private and public transport to get to the clinic. About 80% of private transport users of the city and suburban clinics had indicated some difficulty with parking facilities. For more than two thirds of clients, the time taken to get to the clinic was less than 30 minutes. Overall, more clients preferred an appointment (56%) compared to a walk-in (32%) system. Nearly 65% of all clients preferred to attend the clinic during the weekdays and about 11% preferred weekends. Of those clients who had a preference for a time to attend a clinic, 83.3% attended clinic in their preferred time. Overall, more than one third (39%) of all clients preferred a same gender health care worker (HCW) whereas 13% of clients did not prefer a same gender HCW. Among clients who had a clear preference, more than 90% of all females and nearly 80% of overseas born males preferred a same gender HCW. More females (81%) than males (59%) were actually able to

Background: Chlamydia screening of sexually active young people in general practice is key to the Australian National Sexually Transmissible Infections Strategy 2005–2008. Overseas research indicates that young people have positive attitudes towards opportunistic screening by a general practitioner (GP). This pilot study aims to investigate the attitudes of Australian university students towards chlamydia screening in primary care. Methods: Students (16–25 years) attending a class in one of three faculties at the University of Sydney participated by completing a questionnaire, which collected information about demographics, sexual history, chlamydia knowledge, attitudes towards and preferences for chlamydia screening. Results: One hundred and eighty-five students (78% female) returned questionnaires (participation rate 92%). Arts students were younger, more likely to be sexually active and to report having little or no knowledge of chlamydia. Males in the study were less likely to have had sex as a group compared to the group of females in the sample. Science students were also less likely to have had sex compared to their counterparts in other faculties. Seventy-six percent of students were comfortable with opportunistic testing for chlamydia by their GP. Reasons for not being comfortable included ‘don’t think I’m at risk’ (65%) and ‘not comfortable discussing sexual matters with my GP’ (38%). Although comfortable with GP-based testing, the likelihood of being tested in the upcoming year for most students was low, as was personal concern about chlamydia infection. Conclusions: Findings suggest that the most at risk group for chlamydia infection is not well educated about their risk of infection. The limited numbers of tests among sexually active individuals in this sample indicate that health practitioners are not screening this high-risk group for chlamydia infection.

Background: Like young people in other developed countries, sexually active young Australians can have an increased risk of acquiring sexually transmissible infections (STIs). This paper reviews intervention programs that aim to reduce the incidence and transmission of HIV and STIs among young people in Australia. Methods: Articles were identified from seven databases. Intervention studies conducted in Australia that included young people aged 12–25 years were reviewed. A two-dimensional matrix consisting of ‘setting’ and ‘intervention type’ was developed to categorise each study. Results: Forty-two studies met the inclusion criteria, and the majority were uncontrolled intervention studies. Of these, 23/42 studies measured participation in chlamydia ± other STI testing and found that the highest participation rates took place in non-clinical and non-general practice health care settings. Four studies facilitated access to testing indirectly, through the internet or other media. Ten studies involved the provision of education and measured its impact on factors such as knowledge, attitudes and/or behaviour. Three studies involved novel immunisation strategies for either hepatitis B or human papillomavirus vaccines. Two studies evaluated the impact of enhanced STI surveillance programs on prevalence rates. Conclusions: Proactive STI testing in non-clinical and some health settings appears feasible and achieves higher testing rates than in general practice; however, more evaluation of testing strategies in general practice settings is required. New technologies such as the internet and SMS are useful adjuncts for influencing behaviours such as condom use and STI testing. Media campaigns that promote STI testing can have a positive impact on testing rates.

Young people (16-25 years) are a target group for the prevention of Chlamydia trachomatis in the Australian national STI strategy. This study is a randomized controlled trial of an innovative internet-based intervention which aims to increase Chlamydia testing and treatment among at risk young people living in Australia. Study participation is via a website developed in consultation with young people and linked to an evaluated health promotion website. Young people in the intervention group receive personalised, confidential emails from a nurse or doctor while those in the control group receive automated emails. Follow up at 6 months will measure self-reported Chlamydia testing and other outcomes. By 5 June 2007, 359 young people of a target sample of 1000 were enrolled (83% female). Mean age is 20 years (range 16-25). Participants reside across all states and territories. Thirty percent of participants in the intervention group are in active email dialogue with the research nurse, e.g. “The research and...site was...really good,...it's kinda scared me into getting a test and just to get over the embarrassment... will the test be able to be part of just a normal appointment?” Zero participants in the control group have responded to the automated email. Baseline data and examples of the email interaction will be presented.

Vaccination of young teenage females against human papillomavirus (HPV) with a newly licenced quadrivalent vaccine designed to prevent cervical cancer and genital warts has recently been recommended by the Australian government and will be implemented through schools from April 2007. In addition, a fully funded ‘catch-up’ vaccination program for young women up to age 26 years has been approved for a 2-year period, from July 2007. As general practitioners (GPs) will be the main immunisation providers for this age group, in order to achieve high vaccination coverage and maximal impact on disease, it will be critical for GPs to be opportunistic in recommending this vaccine. An initial study of young Australians’ attitudes towards HPV vaccination and hypothetical acceptance of the vaccine was published in this journal. We draw on this study and data published elsewhere to discuss issues of HPV vaccine acceptability, and the likely challenges of a mass vaccination initiative in this age group in Australia. We suggest specific strategies to support GPs, and highlight areas for further research in HPV vaccine acceptability.

International research on homeless adolescents has found that incidence and prevalence of sexually transmissible infections is relatively high. This study reports on a chlamydia prevalence survey conducted among high-risk young people (14–25 years) in New South Wales. The participants were recruited from youth health centres, which target homeless and high-risk youth. Of 333 clients (42.6% male), 84.1% were sexually active and mean number of sexual partners over the preceding 3 months was 1.4. Among sexually active participants, 24.6% claimed to use condoms always and 25% never. Sixteen of 274 available urine samples tested positive for Chlamydia trachomatis infection. Further research is warranted to better define high-risk groups and clarify the nature of associations between various factors impacting on sexual health. Most importantly, research is now called for into effective strategies for engaging and attracting young people to screening, treatment and contact tracing.