Introduction
The Chlamydia Screening Studies was the analysis designed to receive the results of people’s reaction to the home-based screening for the sexually transmitted infection, Chlamydia trachomatis. 19773 participants were invited to send their urine samples or even vulvovaginal swabs. Later they received negative or positive answers, and some of them were asked to come for the interview. Qualitative research has shown that there are certain differences between the reactions of men and women and the prevalence of the infection in different age groups. Various qualitative tools, like Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and Rosenburg Self Esteem Scale, were used to summarize the findings.
Important issues
Four important issues were raised by the Chlamydia Screening Studies: most people encountered the feeling of discomfort for being invited to the research; most participants felt anxiety, especially when they received a positive answer, due to the stereotype that infected people have a certain stigma, or that they will have to inform their partner about the positive results. Many people had the fear of having undetected diseases or women – being infertile. All these factors have put certain limitations on the outcomes of the project, due to the low response rate some sex or age groups were under-presented. However, the majority of the participants did not regret the decision to take part in the Chlamydia Screening Studies. People, who received a negative response, were pleased about the answers, however, there is a negative tendency of connection between negative response and lack of interest in changing unhealthy habits or behaviors.
Cognitions
To sum up, these projects had much more advantages for their participants compared to the feeling of discomfort, this projects’ results should be applied in practice: for example, Health professionals should be well trained on how to inform their patients about Chlamydia and its possible outcomes, its treatment. There are researches which are similar to the one described above. For example, the study of the psychosocial correlates of heterosexual use of male condoms was done by Sheeran, Orbell, and Abraham. (2004) This study included more than one hundred twenty-one empirical studies, which contained forty-four correlates. To analyze the effect sizes Cohen’s guidelines were used. (1992) Four essential cognitions were found during the presented research. The first cognition(r =0.32) was the feelings towards the condoms. The attitudes to the use of condoms have changed over time: in Catholic schools, children are now educated about the importance of the usage of condoms, as stated in the article “The condom issue” by William F. Buckley Jr. (Buckley, 2004).
The second cognition is showing the attitude of other people to the usage of condoms (r =0, 37). As it is highlighted in the article “Health: Condoms: A Healthy Attitude towards Sex; Education Is the Only Way to Win the Battle with Aids”, people understand the importance of condom usage today and make them available as much as possible (Beattie, 1998).
The third cognition(r =0.43) was stating the intention of the usage of condoms. As the studies of The Crisis Pregnancy Agency (CPA) have shown, that approximately 25 percent of teen girls are not even intending to carry condoms with them, the reason for such behavior is the fear of prejudice from other people. (WYNNE, 2004).
The next cognition was the fear of pregnancy (r=0.37), and the last cognition –control over the actions (r=0.45). (Albarracin et al., 2001).
Summarizing the finding of these researches, it can be seen that certain factors made a significant impact on health-related behavior, and if the attitudes towards condoms’ usage are studied more carefully, later these findings will help in promoting a healthy future without serious infectious diseases. Unfortunately, stereotypes and prejudices come on the way to the deep research of this topic, many participants of the research refused to answer the questions or gave inaccurate information on the issue of usage of male condoms.
Amy Kaler research
Another research, which was conducted by Amy Kaler, with the support of the National Vulvodynia Association, interviewed more than one hundred women on the issue of vulvar pain. Women were invited to have an interview in person or through the website of this association and were asked to fill in the questionnaire on the problem stated above. It was found that 34 % of women during the consultations on this problem were said that their problems are “psychological”, or 6 % of them were advised to have surgery, and another 6 % were said they had misused the steroid creams. The research has shown, that majority of the participants with vulvar pain were said that they were frigid or sexually abnormal. Such diagnoses have made women feel depressed, with a feeling of certain stigma on them. However, vulvar pain and dyspareunia should be excluded from the category of sexual dysfunction and should be moved to the category of pain disorder. To outline, this research it is essential to highlight that the vast majority of women have received not accurate consultations, which affected their well being, lowered their self–esteem. (Kaler, 2005).
After the study of the researches described above it is important to work out possible solutions to the problems, which arose during the research and give relevant recommendations, which will be used in practice, to avoid these problems in the future. (Sheppard, 1991).
Recommendations
First of all, it is important to outline that the main issue all these researches have in common is the certain stereotypes towards certain diseases or infections. (Morrall, 2001) So, the first thing that should be done about these problems is to break these stereotypes. As written in the book “Sexual exploitation of patients by health professionals”, not all medical specialist are providing their patients with accurate information about their diseases and they do not educate their patients on the main health issues, breaking stereotypes this way. (Burgess et al.,1986). The feeling of discomfort because of chlamydia, the fear of prejudice while caring for the condoms, or having vulvar pains are problems closely related to the issue of sexual orientation. Sexual orientation is the choice of every person and people can not be judged for that, this is the main idea expressed in the book “The Psychology of Sexual Orientation, Behavior, and Identity”. (Diamant, 1995 ).
My next recommendation for these issues would be holding a series of consultations, which are run by reputable medical specialists. There are many seminars on the importance of the usage of condoms in terms of protection against HIV/AIDS. However, the integral part of a sexual health course is also infertility, and sexual dysfunction, as the state in the article “Nonvolitional Sex and Sexual Health”. (Kalmuss, 2004) I believe, there is a need for consultations on these problems too. These consultations should be free of charge and should cover all the problems of sexual health today. People, and especially women, should feel free to ask questions, so if necessary these consultations should be held in person. People should be notified of the centers and associations, which help them learn more about such diseases.
Conclusion
In the end, I would like to highlight the importance of the researches mentioned in this paper, once more stated in the article “A Study in Sexual Health Applying the Principles of Community-Based Participatory Research.”(Reece, Dodge, 2004). This research help study sexual health in practice, see the reaction patterns, learn about the feelings of the patient. (Andrews, 1997) Later, these researches can be of significant importance and can lead to further and deeper analysis of the patient. All these finds will help humanity in building a healthy and non-stereotyped society in the future.
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