Knowledge and testing preferences for Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, and Trichomonas vaginalis infections among female undergraduate students

Abstract

Objective: Our goal was to evaluate knowledge and testing preferences for Chlamydia trachomatis (CT), Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG), and Trichomonas vaginalis (TV) infections.

Participants: We surveyed female undergraduates attending the University of California, Los Angeles, in May 2017.

Methods: Using an online survey, we collected demographic information and information on 793 participants’ health care seeking behavior, sexual activity, sexually transmitted infection (STI) knowledge, and STI screening preferences. We used conjoint analysis to evaluate testing preferences of hypothetical STI tests.

Results: On knowledge questions of CT and NG infections, 193 (27.7%) participants scored >80% correct. Cost had the largest impact on willingness to use a hypothetical STI test, accounting for 41.5% of preference, followed by specimen type (17.4%), and location of testing (16.4%).

Conclusions: Knowledge regarding STIs was low. Educational programs implemented through the university health center might increase testing rates. A free, urine-based, home STI test may be desirable for undergraduate females.

Keywords:

• Conjoint analysis
• Chlamydia trachomatis
• Neisseria gonorrhoeae
• Trichomonas vaginalis
• testing
• knowledge

Acknowledgments

We thank our participants for their participation in the survey as well as UCLA Registrar office.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Team Klausner Saving Lives, National Institutes of Health: Center for AIDS Research (5P30AI028697), and Center for HIV, Identification, Prevention and Treatment Services (MH58107).