Communication About Urinary Tract Infections: Communicative (Dis)enfranchisement Meets Privacy Management
1Department of Communication, Department of Public Health, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA.
Qualitative Health Research
|February 17, 2026
Summary
Women experiencing urinary tract infections (UTIs) manage private health information boundaries influenced by disenfranchising talk. This communication can either help or hinder their access to care and support in various relationships.
Area of Science:
- Health Communication
- Social Psychology
- Medical Sociology
Background:
- Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are common among women, yet discussing them can be difficult due to privacy concerns.
- Existing theories like Communication Privacy Management (CPM) explain information boundary management.
- The novel Theory of Communicative Disenfranchisement (TCD) addresses how communication can disempower individuals.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine how disenfranchising talk (DT) influences privacy boundary management for women with UTIs.
- To understand how DT affects access to care and support in different social contexts.
- To integrate CPM and TCD frameworks in the context of UTI experiences.
Main Methods:
- Conducted semi-structured interviews with women who have experienced UTIs.
- Analyzed interview data through the lens of CPM and TCD.
- Investigated privacy management systems shaped by (dis)enfranchising talk.
Main Results:
- Women's privacy management for UTI information is informed by rules and catalysts related to disenfranchising talk.
- Disenfranchising talk can enable or constrain women's access to necessary care and support.
- The study identified specific patterns of communication impacting UTI management.
Conclusions:
- Disenfranchising talk significantly impacts how women manage privacy around their UTI experiences.
- Understanding these communication dynamics is crucial for improving support systems for women with UTIs.
- The findings offer insights into CPM and TCD, enhancing health communication strategies.
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