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The importance of distinguishing between black Caribbeans and Africans in understanding sexual risk and care-seeking behaviours for sexually transmitted infections: evidence from a large survey of people attending genitourinary medicine clinics in England

journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-08, 17:57 authored by M Gerressu, C H Mercer, Jackie Cassell, G Brook, S Dave
Background In the UK, black Caribbean and African populations experience disproportionately high rates of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and HIV. Often studies do not differentiate between these populations notwithstanding differences in STI epidemiology and sociodemographics. Methods Patterns of care-seeking behaviour for STIs were explored separately for black Caribbean (n= 345), black African (n= 193) and white people through a cross-sectional survey of 2824 people attending five genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinics in England. Results Black Caribbean men were least likely to use, or try to use, their general practice surgery prior to GUM clinic attendance (16.6%). Symptomatic black Caribbean and African men were least likely to delay seeking care (30.8 and 26.3%, respectively). Symptomatic black Caribbean men faced the least provider delay in accessing care (27.3%). Black Caribbean men and women were most likely, and black African men and women least likely, to be diagnosed with an STI (49.7 and 32.0% versus 26.8 and 16.3%, respectively). Among symptomatic women, black Caribbeans and, among symptomatic men, black Africans were most likely to report abstaining from sex (46.3 and 73.1%, respectively). Conclusions Our analyses highlight the importance of distinguishing between black ethnic groups and the need for future studies to ensure sufficiently large samples to permit such analyses.

History

Publication status

  • Published

File Version

  • Published version

Journal

Journal of Public Health

ISSN

1741-3842

Publisher

Oxford University Press

Issue

3

Volume

34

Page range

411-420

Department affiliated with

  • Primary Care and Public Health Publications

Full text available

  • No

Peer reviewed?

  • Yes

Legacy Posted Date

2014-07-28

First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date

2014-07-28

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