GYT: Get Yourself Tested Campaign Awareness: Associations with Sexually Transmitted Disease/HIV Testing and Communication Behaviors among Youth

The GYT: Get Yourself Tested campaign promotes sexually transmitted disease (STD) and HIV testing and communication with partners and providers among youth. We evaluated these behaviors in relation to campaign awareness among youth through a national survey.

We collected data from 4017 respondents aged 15 to 25 years through an online panel survey designed to be representative of the US population. The GYT campaign targeted 4 key behaviors: STD testing, HIV testing, talking to partners about testing, and talking to providers about testing.

Respondents who were aware of the GYT campaign (24.4%) were more likely to report engaging in each of the 4 target behaviors. Associations remained significant when stratified by race and sex and when taking into account sexuality, sexual activity, age, insurance status, and use of campaign partner-provided services.

Awareness of the GYT campaign is related to the 4 target behaviors promoted by the campaign, suggesting that health promotions campaigns oriented toward youth can be successful in increasing STD-related, health-seeking behavior, including among populations disproportionately affected by STD.

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By: McFarlane M1, Brookmeyer K, Friedman A, Habel M, Kachur R, Hogben M.

• 1From the Division of STD Prevention, United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA.  

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