TY - JOUR
T1 - Preferences for Rectal Sexually Transmitted Infection Sample Collection and Sexual Behaviors Among Adolescent and Young Adult Women Accessing Primary Care Services
AU - Woods, Hannah E.
AU - Schuh, Aaron M.
AU - Gaydos, Charlotte A.
AU - Fenchel, Matthew
AU - Kowalczyk Mullins, Tanya L.
AU - Conard, Lee Ann E.
AU - Manabe, Yukari C.
AU - Widdice, Lea E.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
PY - 2023/9/1
Y1 - 2023/9/1
N2 - Background High prevalence of asymptomatic rectal chlamydia and gonorrhea among women is increasingly recognized. Screening is controversial because of lack of natural history data. Barriers to screening may include reluctance to discuss anal sex and collect rectal samples. This study describes the prevalence of sexual contact exposing adolescent and young adult women to extragenital sexually transmitted infections and acceptability of self-collection and clinician collection of rectal samples, preference for self- versus clinician-collected rectal samples, and preference for home or doctor's office for sample collection. Methods Participants were recruited from a primary care office and completed structured interviews assessing types of sexual contact and attitudes about rectal sampling. Differences were tested using χ2 and 2-sided Fisher exact test. Results Of 110 cisgender women (aged 14-22 years) enrolled, the average age was 18.4 years (SD, 1.7 years), 83% reported a history of extragenital contact, 22% reported history of receptive anal intercourse. A majority of participants reported self- and clinician-collected rectal samples to be acceptable (86% and 73%, respectively), with preferences for self-collection (71%) over clinician collection (29%, P < 0.001) and collection at the doctor's office (85%) over home (15%, P < 0.001). Conclusions Adolescent and young adult (AYA) women engage in behaviors that increase the risk of rectal sexually transmitted infection (STI). Self- and clinician-collected rectal samples were acceptable. A majority of AYA women preferred to collect rectal samples in the doctor's office rather than at home. This may reduce adolescents' access to direct-to-consumer STI services. Offering in-clinic, self-collected rectal samples may improve uptake of rectal STI screening in adolescent girls.
AB - Background High prevalence of asymptomatic rectal chlamydia and gonorrhea among women is increasingly recognized. Screening is controversial because of lack of natural history data. Barriers to screening may include reluctance to discuss anal sex and collect rectal samples. This study describes the prevalence of sexual contact exposing adolescent and young adult women to extragenital sexually transmitted infections and acceptability of self-collection and clinician collection of rectal samples, preference for self- versus clinician-collected rectal samples, and preference for home or doctor's office for sample collection. Methods Participants were recruited from a primary care office and completed structured interviews assessing types of sexual contact and attitudes about rectal sampling. Differences were tested using χ2 and 2-sided Fisher exact test. Results Of 110 cisgender women (aged 14-22 years) enrolled, the average age was 18.4 years (SD, 1.7 years), 83% reported a history of extragenital contact, 22% reported history of receptive anal intercourse. A majority of participants reported self- and clinician-collected rectal samples to be acceptable (86% and 73%, respectively), with preferences for self-collection (71%) over clinician collection (29%, P < 0.001) and collection at the doctor's office (85%) over home (15%, P < 0.001). Conclusions Adolescent and young adult (AYA) women engage in behaviors that increase the risk of rectal sexually transmitted infection (STI). Self- and clinician-collected rectal samples were acceptable. A majority of AYA women preferred to collect rectal samples in the doctor's office rather than at home. This may reduce adolescents' access to direct-to-consumer STI services. Offering in-clinic, self-collected rectal samples may improve uptake of rectal STI screening in adolescent girls.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85167843636&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1097/OLQ.0000000000001835
DO - 10.1097/OLQ.0000000000001835
M3 - Article
C2 - 37255238
AN - SCOPUS:85167843636
SN - 0148-5717
VL - 50
SP - 613
EP - 618
JO - Sexually transmitted diseases
JF - Sexually transmitted diseases
IS - 9
ER -