title: Beliefs about chlamydia testing amongst young people living in relatively deprived areas.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study uses the theory of planned behaviour (TPB) as a framework to investigate salient beliefs about chlamydia testing, amongst young people living in relatively deprived areas. These beliefs may form targets for intervention to increase testing in this high-risk population.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants recruited from colleges in deprived areas of a UK city, completed open-ended questions designed to elicit salient beliefs. Responses were content analysed and categorized as describing behavioural, normative or control beliefs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Beliefs were elicited from 128 respondents (51% male; median age = 17). The commonest behavioural belief, which could have a positive or negative impact on screening intentions, was that testing provides information about health status. Partners were referred to most commonly amongst the normative beliefs. Practical aspects and concerns about social implications of testing were common control beliefs. References to several negative emotions emerged throughout.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study indicates that raising awareness of chlamydia as a serious sexual health problem may not be the best way to increase the uptake of testing in a high-risk population. Promoting chlamydia testing as potentially providing reassurance may be an alternative. It may also be important to reduce perceptions of social disapproval as well as negative emotion regarding chlamydia testing.
authors.affiliation: School of Health and Related Research, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S1 4DA, UK. a.r.booth@sheffield.ac.uk
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Booth
authors.forename: P R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Harris
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Goyder
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Norman
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001294:Attitude to Health; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D011204:Poverty Areas; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D006113:United Kingdom; D055815:Young Adult