Taking the Public’s Pulse Taking the Public’s Pulse on Youth and STDson Youth and STDs

Joan R. Cates, MPHJoan R. Cates, MPH

American Public Health AssociationAmerican Public Health Association

November 17, 2003November 17, 2003

Our Voices, Our Lives, Our Our Voices, Our Lives, Our Futures: Youth and STDsFutures: Youth and STDs

• William T. Grant FoundationWilliam T. Grant Foundation

• Purpose: Create society that values young Purpose: Create society that values young people and enables them to reach their people and enables them to reach their full potentialfull potential

• Focus on public’s view of youthFocus on public’s view of youth

• Develop communications to influence adults’ Develop communications to influence adults’ attitudes and behaviors re: youthattitudes and behaviors re: youth

OverviewOverview

• PurposePurpose

• HypothesisHypothesis

• Research questionsResearch questions

• MethodMethod

• ResultsResults

• ConclusionsConclusions

PurposePurpose

• To assess the American public’s To assess the American public’s knowledge knowledge and and attitudesattitudes about about reducing the risk of sexually reducing the risk of sexually transmitted diseases in youth ages transmitted diseases in youth ages 15-2415-24

HypothesisHypothesis

• Segments of the public vary in their Segments of the public vary in their knowledge and attitudes about knowledge and attitudes about reducing the risk of STDs in youthreducing the risk of STDs in youth

Research Questions Re: Adult Research Questions Re: Adult Views of Youth and STDsViews of Youth and STDs

• RQ1: Do demographic factors RQ1: Do demographic factors influence knowledge and attitudes?influence knowledge and attitudes?

• RQ2: Do lifestyle factors influence RQ2: Do lifestyle factors influence knowledge and attitudes?knowledge and attitudes?

Research MethodResearch Method

• Public opinion polls in sample of statesPublic opinion polls in sample of states

• Knowledge re:Knowledge re:• STDs in youthSTDs in youth• Undetected STDsUndetected STDs

• Attitudes re: Attitudes re: • Condoms prevent STDsCondoms prevent STDs• Education about condomsEducation about condoms• STD testing in schoolsSTD testing in schools

““Piggy-back” PollPiggy-back” Poll

• Random digit-dialed telephone survey of Random digit-dialed telephone survey of likely voters in November 2002 electionslikely voters in November 2002 elections

• 3 states: 3 states: • North Carolina (n=625)North Carolina (n=625)

• Ohio (n=805)Ohio (n=805)

• Colorado (n-631)Colorado (n-631)

• Mason-Dixon Research AssociatesMason-Dixon Research Associates• Conducted in September, 2002Conducted in September, 2002

Knowledge QuestionsKnowledge Questions

• What proportion of STDs occur in What proportion of STDs occur in youth 15-24 each year?youth 15-24 each year?• 1/4, 1/4, 1/21/2 ,2/3 ,2/3,, or ¾ or ¾

• What proportion of STDs are What proportion of STDs are undetected?undetected?• ¼, ½, ¼, ½, 2/3, or 3/42/3, or 3/4

Attitude QuestionsAttitude Questions

• Would correct and consistent use of Would correct and consistent use of condoms prevent most STDs? condoms prevent most STDs?

• Should youth be taught how to use Should youth be taught how to use condoms? condoms?

• Should testing for STDs be available in Should testing for STDs be available in schools? schools?

Respondent VariablesRespondent Variables

• DemographicDemographic

• AgeAge

• GenderGender

• RaceRace

• EducationEducation

• LifestyleLifestyle

• Party IdentificationParty Identification

• ReligionReligion

• Parent of MinorParent of Minor

• StateState

Results (1)Results (1)

• Proportion of STDs – 2/3 said 50% Proportion of STDs – 2/3 said 50% or lessor less

• Undiagnosed STDs – 3/4 said 50% Undiagnosed STDs – 3/4 said 50% or lessor less

• Condoms prevent STDs – 71% yesCondoms prevent STDs – 71% yes

• Teach condom use – 75% yesTeach condom use – 75% yes

• Test for STDs in school – 76% yesTest for STDs in school – 76% yes

Results (2)Results (2)

• Democrats most likely to support Democrats most likely to support education and testingeducation and testing

• Catholics least likely to support Catholics least likely to support condom educationcondom education

• Females more likely to support Females more likely to support condom education yet condom education yet underestimate STDsunderestimate STDs

• No differences by raceNo differences by race

Results (3)Results (3)

• 18-34 year olds believed in condoms 18-34 year olds believed in condoms more than older age groupsmore than older age groups

• 18-34 year olds more likely to 18-34 year olds more likely to support condom educationsupport condom education

ConclusionsConclusions

• RespondentsRespondents• underestimated STDs in youthunderestimated STDs in youth• believe condoms prevent most STDsbelieve condoms prevent most STDs• support condom education support condom education • support testing for STDs in schoolssupport testing for STDs in schools

• Some differences by demographic Some differences by demographic and lifestyle variablesand lifestyle variables