Location
Suwanee, GA
Start Date
6-5-2025 1:00 PM
End Date
6-5-2025 4:00 PM
Description
Introduction:
Of the 26 million new sexually transmitted infections (STI) in 2018, almost half were among adolescents 15 to 24 years old. Less than 3% of sexually active male adolescents have had an STI test in the past 12 months versus 26% of their female peers. Male adolescents are more likely to forego testing than female adolescents due to greater confidentiality concerns, cost/insurance barriers, and lower self-perceived risk.
Despite the high prevalence of STIs in this marginalized group, male adolescents face unique barriers to STI testing, including cost, stigma, and limited availability of youth and male-friendly services. This project aims to develop STI testing models tailored to the needs of adolescent men.
Methods:
We employed qualitative research methods to explore priorities, motivators, and challenges of STI testing among black adolescent men (15-19 years old) in Atlanta, Georgia. We conducted a literature review to identify STI testing priorities reported in the empirical literature. We then recruited a youth advisory board of black men (15-19 years old) from Atlanta, obtaining informed consent and assent. Advisory board members participated in focus groups to refine identified priorities and contribute their own through structured discussions and open-ended prompts. We used pile-sorting exercises to categorize attributes as important, unimportant, or uncertain and had participants rank-order their priorities. Discussions were audio-recorded, transcribed, and analyzed. Photographs were taken of the pile-sorting process. Researchers synthesized the findings into a summary analysis. This study was reviewed and approved by the Emory University Institutional Review Board granting a waiver of parental consent.
Results:
This is an interim report from focus group discussions with ten 15 to 19-year-old males to inform a discrete choice experiment (DCE). The priorities identified as most important among participants were privacy, connection with clinical care and treatment (or lack thereof), and comfort. Privacy is the highest priority selected by all participants, followed by comfort and connection with clinical care/treatment. When ranking the top five most important priorities, privacy and communication of results were most often selected in the top three. The location of the testing site was ranked as not important by majority of the participants. One theme that emerged from participant discussion was the willingness to engage their parents throughout the STI testing and treatment process. Participants shared that they trust their parents regarding payment (or using insurance), transportation, and booking appointments during this process. Additionally, stigma remains a powerful influence on STI intentions and practices for adolescents.
Discussion:
The youth advisory board has provided insights into STI testing priorities. The key priorities identified in this work will be further tested in the (DCE). A DCE asks participants to choose between two options that include different priorities and levels within those priorities (for example, connection with treatment or not); it has been shown to predict future behaviors. Our DCE will survey 500 individuals to clarify the priorities of STI testing. Ultimately, we will develop innovative and responsive STI testing strategies for adolescent black men in Atlanta.
Embargo Period
5-28-2025
Included in
Breaking the stigma: Innovating STI testing models for black adolescent men
Suwanee, GA
Introduction:
Of the 26 million new sexually transmitted infections (STI) in 2018, almost half were among adolescents 15 to 24 years old. Less than 3% of sexually active male adolescents have had an STI test in the past 12 months versus 26% of their female peers. Male adolescents are more likely to forego testing than female adolescents due to greater confidentiality concerns, cost/insurance barriers, and lower self-perceived risk.
Despite the high prevalence of STIs in this marginalized group, male adolescents face unique barriers to STI testing, including cost, stigma, and limited availability of youth and male-friendly services. This project aims to develop STI testing models tailored to the needs of adolescent men.
Methods:
We employed qualitative research methods to explore priorities, motivators, and challenges of STI testing among black adolescent men (15-19 years old) in Atlanta, Georgia. We conducted a literature review to identify STI testing priorities reported in the empirical literature. We then recruited a youth advisory board of black men (15-19 years old) from Atlanta, obtaining informed consent and assent. Advisory board members participated in focus groups to refine identified priorities and contribute their own through structured discussions and open-ended prompts. We used pile-sorting exercises to categorize attributes as important, unimportant, or uncertain and had participants rank-order their priorities. Discussions were audio-recorded, transcribed, and analyzed. Photographs were taken of the pile-sorting process. Researchers synthesized the findings into a summary analysis. This study was reviewed and approved by the Emory University Institutional Review Board granting a waiver of parental consent.
Results:
This is an interim report from focus group discussions with ten 15 to 19-year-old males to inform a discrete choice experiment (DCE). The priorities identified as most important among participants were privacy, connection with clinical care and treatment (or lack thereof), and comfort. Privacy is the highest priority selected by all participants, followed by comfort and connection with clinical care/treatment. When ranking the top five most important priorities, privacy and communication of results were most often selected in the top three. The location of the testing site was ranked as not important by majority of the participants. One theme that emerged from participant discussion was the willingness to engage their parents throughout the STI testing and treatment process. Participants shared that they trust their parents regarding payment (or using insurance), transportation, and booking appointments during this process. Additionally, stigma remains a powerful influence on STI intentions and practices for adolescents.
Discussion:
The youth advisory board has provided insights into STI testing priorities. The key priorities identified in this work will be further tested in the (DCE). A DCE asks participants to choose between two options that include different priorities and levels within those priorities (for example, connection with treatment or not); it has been shown to predict future behaviors. Our DCE will survey 500 individuals to clarify the priorities of STI testing. Ultimately, we will develop innovative and responsive STI testing strategies for adolescent black men in Atlanta.