Chlamydia is second only to HIV of all the sixually transmitted diseases causing a health burden globally to young people. The reasons young people don’t get the testing and treatment for chlamydia include:
Embarrassment
Lack of knowledge about services
Concerns about confidentiality
Cost of testing or treatment
No transportation to testing or treatment services
Young people who do not have Internet access and whom live in rural areas are considered especially at risk. The Internet brings awareness, information about free or low-cost tests, and information about how to get a chlamydia test by mail.
Teens and young adults reluctant to talk to a doctor will use the Internet to access health information if it is available. The anonymity frees them from the embarrassment of talking to someone in person about sensitive sixual health subjects.
A recent Australian study illustrating how to get information to young people about chlamydia highlighted the importance of putting the information where young people would find it. A website offered information about chlamydia and testing facilities was put up and advertised, and talked about in the media and on social networking sites.
This study showed that young people were significantly more likely to get chlamydia testing when given information about testing, treatment and relevant services as opposed to information about risk, which was considered more “threatening”.
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