Genital herpes beliefs: implications for sexual health.

Autor: Royer HR; College of Nursing, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI 53211, USA. hrroyer@uwm.edu, Falk EC, Heidrich SM
Jazyk: angličtina
Zdroj: Journal of pediatric and adolescent gynecology [J Pediatr Adolesc Gynecol] 2013 Apr; Vol. 26 (2), pp. 109-16. Date of Electronic Publication: 2013 Jan 20.
DOI: 10.1016/j.jpag.2012.11.007
Abstrakt: Study Objective: Genital herpes (HSV) is exceedingly common in the United States and women are disproportionally affected. This study aims to describe young women's beliefs about HSV and examine the correlates of those beliefs.
Design: A 40-item Herpes Representation measure (HSV-RoSTD) and a demographic questionnaire were administered to a convenience sample of young women. Data analysis included descriptive statistics, t-tests and Pearson's correlations.
Setting: Four women's health clinics and one large state university.
Participants: 302 women aged 18-24 years.
Interventions: None.
Main Outcome Measures: Four dimensions of HSV representations (cause, identity, future perspective, and psychosocial consequences), age and STD testing history.
Results: Nearly all (98%) believed that HSV would result in genital sores and 68% believed they could tell if their sexual partner had HSV. Most (89%) understood the longevity of HSV; however, 30% believed that they could take a pill to get rid of the infection, and 15% indicated that it was likely they would die from HSV. Negative beliefs about the psychosocial impact of HSV were common as 95% indicated they would be depressed and 90% indicated concern about sex and partner notification. Those who were younger and those who had never been tested for STDs believed a genital herpes infection is highly symptomatic. Finally, negative beliefs about the psychosocial consequences of HSV were associated with beliefs about HSV being symptomatic, having a negative impact on future health, and being associated with sexual risk behaviors.
Conclusions: Young women have misconceptions about HSV, particularly regarding the symptomatology and the role of HSV medication. Noteworthy concerns about the negative psychosocial consequences of an HSV diagnosis were also raised, all of which have implications for young women's sexual health.
(Copyright © 2013 North American Society for Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology. All rights reserved.)
Databáze: MEDLINE
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