AGE AND PREVENTION OF SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED INFECTIONS IN WOMEN: A PILOT STUDY

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) represent a significant public health and financial burden in the United States. The rate of STIs diagnosed in older populations has more than doubled in the past decade; however, the reason for this phenomenon is unclear. Adults are sexually active well into old age, yet many have never discussed sexual activity or received education about sexual health from a healthcare provider. Since a significant role of the nurse practitioner is to educate individuals and communities regarding health promotion and disease prevention, it is important to take a fresh look at what role nurse practitioners currently play in the prevention of STIs in older women and how they can become better advocates for this population. This study examined the relationship between a woman’s age and whether a nurse practitioner provides education about prevention of STIs. Associated factors of gender, age, marital status, ethnicity, specialty, level of education, and years of experience of the nurse practitioner were examined as possible issues affecting sexual health care and education provided to women about prevention of STIs. Results indicated that the age of female patients significantly affected education about prevention of STIs. A bias exists related to education of sexual health for women ages 40 or more compared to women ages 20–39, suggesting that older women are less likely than younger women to receive preventative sexual education from nurse practitioners.