Disrupted sense of self: young women and sexually transmitted infections

Abstract

Nurses providing care to women with sexually transmitted infections should promote positive coping strategies that could help curb non-disclosure and denial among young women who contract these infections. Education focused on sexually transmitted infections should emphasis that all sexually active individuals are at risk of these infections, which could potentially minimise the shame felt by persons who contract these infections. Further, recognition of the gender issues that limit women's ability to practise safer sex should be incorporated into safer sex education and campaigns.

Healthcare experiences of women who have been diagnosed with a sexually transmitted infection

“…(2007) suggests the lack of information and support provided by healthcare physicians can influence disclosure of STIs to partners. Although many of the women in this study did not disclose having an STI due to their shame, stigma and denial (L East, D Jackson, K Peters & O'Brien L, unpublished manuscript, East et al 2010), if they had received adequate information regarding STIs, the difficulty associated with STI disclosure may have been reduced.…”

“…A qualitative approach informed by Anderson and Jack (1991) was selected to guide this study and these methods are more fully described elsewhere (East et al. 2010).…”

“…2010). Data were collected via online interviews and were subjected to thematic analysis using a feminist technique (East et al. 2010).…”

“…Findings reported in this paper are drawn from a larger study focussed on women’s stories of having an STI/s. Previous findings pertaining to women’s sense of self are published elsewhere (East et al. 2010).…”

Response to Hayter M (2010) Commentary on East L, Jackson D, Peters K & O’Brien L (2010) Disrupted sense of self: young women and sexually transmitted infection. Journal of Clinical Nursing 19, 2952–2953

“…In this study (East et al. 2010a), there were many reasons that some of these particular women (on occasions) chose not to disclose having an STI to partners.…”