United States: According to a new survey, many young adults opt for at-home sexually transmitted infections (STIs) testing due to their privacy-guaranteeing and convenient nature.
High Interest Among Youth
According to survey results, 91% of those between 14 and 24 years old stated they would use free STI self-collection kits. Users obtain either urine samples or vaginal swabs by using the STI home collection kits at their home addresses, as reported by HealthDay.
Commercial at-home STI testing kits exist throughout the nation, while parts of the country provide free testing options, according to the American Sexual Health Association.
Rising STI Rates Among Youth
The CDC has documented 2.4 million cases of syphilis, gonorrhea, and chlamydia throughout the United States in 2023.
The age group from fifteen to twenty-four contributed fifty percent of all STIs diagnosed in the United States.
Early detection of most STIs enables their standard treatment, while these infections lead to a third of female infertility and raise pregnancy complications along with fetal health risks in addition to endometriosis development.
Addressing Barriers to Testing
Dr. Okeoma Mmeje of the University of Michigan Medical School’s obstetrics and gynecology department emphasized in a news release “sexual infection testing must become both imminent and available to young people.”
“STI self-collection is an effective alternative that addresses barriers that often deter this population from seeking traditional reproductive health care services,” said Mmeje, who is also an OB-GYN at U-M Health Von Voigtlander Women’s Hospital. “The autonomy and confidentiality offered through this option may empower young people to take charge of their sexual health without fear of judgment or social stigma.”
Survey Findings
Six open-ended text messages regarding their opinions and usage of STI self-collection kits were sent to 760 young adults as part of the study.
Approximately 6% of respondents stated they would not utilize free STI self-collection kits because they were uncomfortable collecting specimens and were worried about their accuracy, despite the vast majority saying they would.
“STI screening should be available and accessible to young people in various forms,” said lead study author Jayelin Parker, a researcher at the U-M Medical School’s Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. “User-friendly STI self-collection kits encourage more frequent testing, early detection, and treatment of STIs.”
Addressing Disparities in Healthcare Access
Historically marginalized groups in the United States who belong to sexual and gender minority youth populations face higher STI rates, according to the author’s analysis, due to medical mistrust and lack of healthcare access, as reported by HealthDay.
“It’s a public health priority to address the social and political determinants of health that impact the ability of youth to access reproductive healthcare services,” Mmeje said.
Research authors proposed that social media-based educational campaigns aimed at teenagers and young adults could enhance awareness of and use of STI self-collection kits.