Why People Aren’t Getting Tested for STIs: Addressing Key Barriers
Why aren’t people getting tested for STIs? While these six (6) buckets aren’t the only reasons, many individuals’ thoughts and feelings for declining STI screenings, or not seeking them at all, falls into these categories. Practitioners attitudes, beliefs, and biases fit within this context, too. Specifically under stigma and government policies.
1. Fear: What are the procedures? Will it hurt? What happens if I test positive? What if the doctor judges me? What do I tell my partners? What will they think? Fear is also closely knit with stigma.
2. Stigma: One of the first times we confront STI stigma is when we’re forced to face it. The what if moments. The realization that reality doesn’t fit into the education you received about STIs. Negotiating and navigating one’s identity within a stereotype.
3. Cost: While there are some great clinics, not everyone has access to those, or at least not on their own.
4. Government Policies: The US healthcare system is not designed to support us as patients. More specifically, it is not set up to support the needs of BIPOC, LGBTQ+ folks, and other marginalized populations. With this in mind, government guidelines and recommendations are lacking. It’s in this space that barriers can be (and often are) turned into legislation designed to keep certain populations from seeking and receiving testing/treatment, further fueling stigma and stereotypes.
5. Lack of Education: People think that because they don’t show presenting symptoms, they must not have an STI. When in reality...that’s the most common symptom. The underestimate their risk. People think they’re immune to STIs, or haven’t been sexually active with someone who has one.
6. Time: we want it, and we want it now. We want it instantaneously. Doctors offices are synonymous with wait times, in addition to time to receive the screening and testing results. People believe they have no symptoms, so it would be a “waste of time” if you will.