Knowledge, barriers and facilitating factors for Chlamydia trachomatis screening – the views of young women using social networking sites.
278 participants completed the survey. Our population was representative in geographic distribution and socioeconomic status. Overall, 78% had heard of Chlamydia trachomatis. Participants aged 16-17 were less likely to have heard of chlamydia than older participants (p=0.01), as were sexually naïve and overseas-born participants (p=0.02 and p<0.001 respectively). Eighty-seven per cent of participants knew that chlamydia could cause infertility. Screening methods that were most acceptable to participants were providing a urine sample at home (73.4%) and screening during a Pap smear (70.5%). Seventy-six per cent of participants indicated their willingness to participate in online screening. Regional participants were as willing as metropolitan participants (p=0.2).
This study demonstrated a high level of knowledge of chlamydial infection. Knowledge was lower in younger females, indicating a need for further educational interventions targeted to them. There was strong agreement for self-collected urine sampling, coinciding Pap smears with chlamydia screening and online screening, suggesting these may be acceptable methods for young women.
