title: Being diagnosed with a sexually transmitted infection (STI): sources of support for young women.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are prevalent throughout the world with the rate of these infections increasing on a daily basis. STI acquisition has the ability to cause personal adversity and elicit feelings of stigma and shame.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this paper is to report on the sources of support young women who acquired STIs drew on to overcome their associated adversity.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study utilised a feminist qualitative methodology.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Findings revealed that the women drew on both personal and anonymous sources of support.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Nurses and other health-care professionals need to be equipped with knowledge and strategies to promote personal wellbeing and minimise the adversity felt among people having acquired these infections.
authors.affiliation: a Deakin University , Australia.
authors.forename: Leah
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: East
authors.forename: Debra
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Jackson
authors.forename: Louise
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: O'Brien
authors.forename: Kath
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Peters
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001315:Australia; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology*; D057545:Social Stigma; D012944:Social Support; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000209:etiology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: healthcare; nurse; sexual health; sexually transmitted infections; women's health