Background and hypotheses
Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) continue to be of significant public health concern, with 2023 reports from Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HSPC) documenting an alarming increase of 31% in STI notifications in Ireland compared to 2022. Despite the availability of free screening services, it is important to note “awareness and utilisation in at-risk populations remains inadequate.”
Populations most affected are people aged 15-24, and gay and bisexual men or other men who have sex with men (gbMSM)/ Despite much research on sexual health as a subject, STI testing remains an under-researched area warranting further investigation.
Objectives
This study aims to investigate the barriers of STI testing. I will analyse how different marginalised groups in Ireland are or are not taking up STI testing. The analysis will concentrate on the potential impact of gender identity and sexual orientation. I aim to test whether the prevalence of STIs, accessing sexual health services and using or not using different ways of STI testing differ across these groups. Intersectionality between gender and sexual orientation will be analysed, also accounting for ethnicity, social class, religion and other socio-demographic factors. Based on international evidence I anticipate younger and gbMSM subgroups will be less likely to report being tested for STIs and will face more barriers towards usage of sexual health services. We believe this is due to societal and institutionalised stigma, cultural incompetence and/ or mistrust in medical institutions.
Method and expected results
The Irish National Survey of Sexual Health (INISH) aims to understand which subgroup(s) are not engaged with testing, the reasons for lack of testing, and how testing attendance can be enhanced. We anticipate the results of this research will provide evidence-based recommendations to health policy institutions on who, where and how to improve STI testing uptake in Ireland via targeted interventions.