Perceived Barriers/Limitations Associated with Low Uptake of Chlamydia Screening amongst Campus Students in West London

Introduction

The aim of the quality health may start in the orientation of the students towards the sexually transmitted diseases. Together, the health care institutions and schools might work in detecting and preventing the alarming increase of the disease. Through the use of the screening, the aim of the two institutions is possible.

Background and Problem Statement

Sexually transmitted diseases are popular in the most developed countries. STD can be caused by the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis or only considered as Chlamydia. Often producing no symptoms but it can cause infertility, chronic pain, or a tubal pregnancy if left untreated. London, as one of the most considered well-developed countries; the possibility for the citizens to acquire the STD is highly expected. Therefore, as a preventive action, the schools conduct the detecting schemes to early discover the appearance of the said bacteria among the students. However, different perceptions are formed in the minds of the students.

Research Objective

The main objective of the study is to provide the answer on what would be the perceived barriers or limitations in the acceptance of the students to the Chlamydia Screening.

Research Questions

The study is concern on the promotion of the health and wellness but due to certain barriers, the continuity is impossible. Therefore, several questions are prepared to help the study meet its main objective.

1. What are the policies involved in the Chlamydia screening?
2. When did the Chlamydia started in the schools?
3. How can the Chlamydia lessen the STD and its infection in the diversified campuses in West London?

Literature Review

Most of the Chlamydia screening programs settled in higher education settings target the students are commonly females. The assessment on the students starts through answering the questionnaires regarding their lifestyles and socio-demographic factors. Afterwards is the investigation for their urine sample. All of those procedures aimed to the prevalence and predictive risk factors of the Chlamydia trachomatis (O’Connell, et al., 2009). In the areas of health, the investment on the prevention is necessary. The growth of the benefits of the campaign reached the campuses and significantly, the administrators and other officers invests greatly in the Chlamydia screening as part of the prevention strategies. The HIV prevention work created different opportunities such as securing the safety of the students and the immediate treatment of the person detected with Chlamydia bacteria. The Chlamydia screening is indeed need because of the rapid development of the STD and it became more popular in among the teenagers. The current work on the prevention will undergo on the assessment. The Chlamydia screening services for young people is different from the issue of the HIV screening. It is because the latter is intended for the older people and the Chlamydia is for the young ones. The improvement in the Chlamydia screening can be only successful if there is acceptance on the side of the students. Through the campaign of the administrators, the need for the awareness for the students is indeed needed (Bell, et al., 2009). Due to the increasing concern of the students and different personal issues, the barriers to communicate with the facilitators are not that easy (Kretzchmar and Turner, 2009).Physicians considered the different feelings of the youth regarding the screening such as doubts or fear but they should create the guidelines and appropriate strategies regarding the risk assessment about the sexually transmitted diseases and the viruses (Mckay, 2006).

Methodology

The proposed method in the study is the use of comparative case study. The applied method can deliver the adequate reasons or the specific issue of the barriers that limits the students in their approach to the Chlamydia screening. Also, applied method allows the study to examine, compare, and review the different arguments and opinions of the past literatures. With the aid of the comparative case studies, an in-depth analysis can be generated by the current study.

Conclusion

The students feel uncomfortable because of various reasons that might affect their social life and education status. The fear or anxiety that most of the students is an indication that the students has multiple partners and probably engaged in different sexual activity. The purpose of the screening is not to discriminate the students detected with the Chlamydia trachomatis but to help them determine their health status and provide medical advice for the student. In addition, the screening is also concern on informing the youth regarding the risks of having the Chlamydia trachomatis or the associated HIV.

References:

Bell, M., Daniel, S., Hansen, C., & McDougall, 2009. Going All the Way: Further Education Sexual Health Needs Assessment, Michael Bell Associates Research and Consultancy [Online] Available at: http://www.londonsexualhealth.org/uploads/Going%20All%20the%20Way%20VOL%201.pdf [Accessed 05 March 2010].

Kretzchmar, M., & Turner, K., 2009. Sexually Transmitted Infections Predicting the Population Impact of Chlamydia Screening Programs: Comparative Mathematical Modeling Study, Sexually Transmitted Infections, Vol. 85, No 5. [Online] Available at: http://www.healthscotland.com/uploads/documents/10862-E-Bull367.pdf [Accessed 05 March 2010].

Mckay, A., 2006. Chlamydia Screening Programs: A Review of the Literature. Part 1 Issues in the Promotion of Chlamydia Testing of Youth by Primary Care Physicians, The Canadian Journal of Human Sexuality, Vol. 15, No. 1.

O’Connell, E., Brennan, W., Cormican, M., Glacken, M., O’ Donovan, D., Vellinga, A., Cahill, N., Lysaght, F., & O’Donnell, J., 2009. Chlamydia Trachomatis Infection and Sexual Behavior among Female Students attending Higher Education in the Republic of Ireland, BMC Public Health [Online] Available at: http://www.biomedcentral.com/content/pdf/1471-2458-9-397.pdf [Accessed 05 March 2010].