Urban African American women's explanations of recurrent chlamydia infections

To explore reasons for the high chlamydia recurrence rate among African American (AA) urban women.

In this phenomenological qualitative study, young AA urban women with recurrent chlamydia were interviewed using open-ended questions guided by the conceptual framework of the health belief model (HBM).

The study was set in three urban health clinics in Michigan.

Ten African American adolescents, age 15 to 19, participated.

In face-to-face recorded interviews, participants shared their personal experiences and viewpoints on what led to their recurrent chlamydia infections. The data were transcribed and analyzed through hand coding and NVivo 8 a qualitative software package.

Overall, participants demonstrated significant knowledge deficits about the seriousness of chlamydia compared to other sexually transmitted infections (STIs). After reinfection, their perceived susceptibility changed: condom use was seen as beneficial and perceived barriers to condom use diminished as participants gained a new sense of empowerment.

Chlamydia infection among African American urban adolescents is nearly 3 times that of the general population. Lack of education is still a barrier to STI prevention. Participants reported a desire to receive counseling and support from the health care staff. A STI care model that includes education, counseling, and regular screening of high-risk adolescents should be considered. Further research, using the HBM or similar theoretical models, are needed to gauge the success of any planned or implemented intervention.