Men’s Preferences for Sexually Transmitted Infection Care Services in a Low-Income Community Clinic Setting in New York City

• Main Authors: Ian W. Holloway MSW, MPH, Heidi E. Jones MPH, David L. Bell MD, MPH, Carolyn L. Westhoff MD
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: SAGE Publishing 2011-05-01
• Series: American Journal of Men's Health
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1177/1557988310370359

A self-administered anonymous waiting room survey was used to evaluate men’s preferences on testing, notification, and treatment for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in a community clinic in Upper Manhattan in 2007. Sixty-seven percent of eligible men ( n = 199) participated. Most were willing to collect a urine sample at home (71%, n = 140) or at the clinic (87%, n = 171). Respondents preferred learning of a positive STI test result by phone (67%, n = 123). However, men were willing to receive results by text (65%, n = 127) or e-mail (61%, n = 121). Most (83%, n = 162) reported they would be (very) likely to take STI medication brought to them by a partner. Twenty-one percent reported previous gonorrhea or Chlamydia infection ( n = 41). Of these, 39% ( n = 16) had received medication to bring their partner, and almost all ( n = 14/16) reported their partner took the medicine. Multiple options for STI testing, notification, and treatment are recommended to maximize service use among men, including providing patient-delivered partner therapy.