title: Determinants of intention to get tested for STI/HIV among the Surinamese and Antilleans in the Netherlands: results of an online survey.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  High infection rates of STIs are found among the different ethnic communities living in the Netherlands, especially among the Surinamese and Dutch-Antilleans. Only limited effective interventions that promote STI/HIV testing among these communities are available in the Netherlands. In the present study we identified the determinants of the intention to get tested for STI/HIV of the sexually active Surinamese and Dutch-Antilleans living in the Netherlands. Secondly, this study assesses which determinants should be addressed when promoting STI/HIV testing among these communities.
  
  
  METHODS
  In total, 450 Surinamese and 303 Dutch-Antillean respondents were recruited through Dutch Internet panels and group activities. The questionnaire used in the online survey was based on the concepts of the Health Belief Model, the Social Cognitive Theory, and Theory of Planned behavior. To correct for multiple outcome testing, we considered differences as statistically significant at p<.01 for all analyses. For the multivariate linear regression analysis, variables that were significant were entered into the model block-wise.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Health motivation, cues to action, subjective norms, risk behavior, test history, open communication about sexuality, and marital status were important (univariate) predictors of the intention to get tested for STI/HIV for both the Surinamese and Dutch-Antillean respondents. For both the Surinamese and Dutch-Antilleans, subjective norms were the most salient predictor of the intention to get tested in multivariate analyses, explaining 10% and 13% of the variance respectively; subjective norms had a direct influence on the intention for both the Surinamese and the Dutch-Antilleans.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The strong correlation and predictive power of subjective norms on the intention to get tested for STI/HIV, endorses the importance of focusing on community-based intervention rather than focusing on personal determinants, to change the present perceptions and attitudes towards testing. Health promoting programs should be aimed at promoting open communication regarding sexuality and testing. Stimulating each other to get tested frequently could also help achieving the desired behavior.
authors.affiliation: Municipal Public Health Service Rotterdam, P,O, Box 70032, 3000, LP, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. alvin.westmaas@maastrichtuniversity.nl
authors.forename: Alvin H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Westmaas
authors.forename: Gerjo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kok
authors.forename: Pjer
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vriens
authors.forename: Hannelore
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Götz
authors.forename: Jan Hendrik
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Richardus
authors.forename: Hélène
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Voeten
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D033182:Intention; D020407:Internet; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000523:psychology*; D009426:Netherlands; D009427:Netherlands Antilles / Q000208:ethnology; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D013532:Suriname / Q000208:ethnology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult