Use of the Internet for Sexual Health among Sexually Experienced Persons Aged 16 to 44 Years: Evidence from a Nationally Representative Survey of the British Population
BACKGROUND:
Those
who go online regarding their sexual health are potential users of new
Internet-based sexual health interventions. Understanding the size and
characteristics of this population is important in informing intervention
design and delivery.
OBJECTIVE:
We
aimed to estimate the prevalence in Britain of recent use of the Internet for
key sexual health reasons (for chlamydia testing, human immunodeficiency virus
[HIV] testing, sexually transmitted infection [STI] treatment,
condoms/contraceptives, and help/advice with one's sex life) and to identify
associated sociodemographic and behavioral factors.
METHODS:
Complex
survey analysis of data from 8926 sexually experienced persons aged 16-44 years
in a 2010-2012 probability survey of Britain's resident population. Prevalence
of recent (past year) use of Internet sources for key sexual health reasons was
estimated. Factors associated with use of information/support websites were
identified using logistic regression to calculate age-adjusted odds ratios
(AORs).
RESULTS:
Recent
Internet use for chlamydia/HIV testing or STI treatment (combined) was very low
(men: 0.31%; women: 0.16%), whereas 2.35% of men and 0.51% of women reported
obtaining condoms/contraceptives online. Additionally, 4.49% of men and 4.57%
of women reported recent use of information/support websites for advice/help
with their sex lives. Prevalence declined with age (men 16-24 years: 7.7%;
35-44 years: 1.84%, P<.001; women 16-24 years: 7.8%; 35-44 years: 1.84%,
P<.001). Use of information/support websites was strongly associated with
men's higher socioeconomic status (managerial/professional vs
semiroutine/routine: AOR 1.93, 95% CI 1.27-2.93, P<.001). Despite no overall
association with area-level deprivation, those in densely populated urban areas
were more likely to report use of information/support websites than those
living in rural areas (men: AOR 3.38, 95% CI 1.68-6.77, P<.001; women: AOR
2.51, 95% CI 1.34-4.70, P<.001). No statistically significant association
was observed with number of sex partners reported after age adjustment, but use
was more common among men reporting same-sex partners (last 5 years: AOR 2.44,
95% CI 1.27-4.70), women reporting sex with multiple partners without condoms
(last year: AOR 1.90, 95% CI 1.11-3.26), and, among both sexes, reporting
seeking sex online (last year, men: AOR 1.80, 95% CI 1.16-2.79; women: AOR
3.00, 95% CI 1.76-5.13). No association was observed with reporting STI
diagnosis/es (last 5 years) or (after age adjustment) recent use of any STI
service or non-Internet sexual health seeking.
CONCLUSIONS:
A
minority in Britain used the Internet for the sexual health reasons examined.
Use of information/support websites was reported by those at greater STI risk,
including younger people, indicating that demand for online STI services, and
Internet-based sexual health interventions in general, may increase over time
in this and subsequent cohorts. However, the impact on health inequalities
needs addressing during design and evaluation of online sexual health interventions
so that they maximize public health benefit.
Below: Percentage reporting seeking sexual health care and advice/help with one’s sex life in the previous year, and specifically using the Internet to do so, among sexually experienced persons aged 16-44 years by gender and age group.
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