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Female Swedish backpackers in Vietnam: A hypotheses generating study on sexual health risks while travelling.

Dahlman, Disa and Stafström, Martin LU (2013) In Travel Medicine and Infectious Disease 11(4). p.243-249
Abstract
BACKGROUND: According to previous studies, foreign travellers and backpackers are at increased risk of sexually transmitted infections (STI). Concurrently, STI incidence, especially Chlamydia, is increasing among young Swedes. Our objective was to investigate Swedish backpackers' own view of sexual health and risks while travelling, with the purpose to identify hypotheses for further, more extensive research. METHOD: In-depth semi-structured interviews were carried out in Vietnam with four Swedish women in their early twenties. The interviewees had been travelling throughout South East Asia for a period of at least two weeks. RESULTS: There were large differences between the respondents regarding perceived health risks in relation to food... (More)
BACKGROUND: According to previous studies, foreign travellers and backpackers are at increased risk of sexually transmitted infections (STI). Concurrently, STI incidence, especially Chlamydia, is increasing among young Swedes. Our objective was to investigate Swedish backpackers' own view of sexual health and risks while travelling, with the purpose to identify hypotheses for further, more extensive research. METHOD: In-depth semi-structured interviews were carried out in Vietnam with four Swedish women in their early twenties. The interviewees had been travelling throughout South East Asia for a period of at least two weeks. RESULTS: There were large differences between the respondents regarding perceived health risks in relation to food safety, STI, and alcohol and drug use; and to what extent their behaviour while travelling deviated from their normal one. In contrast, the interviewees shared a perceived lack of knowledge about sexual health abroad. CONCLUSIONS: The study identified six hypotheses and suggestions for preventive measures that could be analysed in future research. The study demonstrated that sexual behaviour as well as attitudes and norms were strongly linked to the individual level, rather than to the group of backpackers. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Travel Medicine and Infectious Disease
volume
11
issue
4
pages
243 - 249
publisher
Elsevier
external identifiers
  • wos:000323996100007
  • pmid:23714624
  • scopus:84881475817
  • pmid:23714624
ISSN
1873-0442
DOI
10.1016/j.tmaid.2013.04.005
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
a9d280fd-17e2-414d-99d1-9d8d3397edcc (old id 3804071)
alternative location
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23714624?dopt=Abstract
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 09:53:45
date last changed
2022-02-24 20:18:58
@article{a9d280fd-17e2-414d-99d1-9d8d3397edcc,
  abstract     = {{BACKGROUND: According to previous studies, foreign travellers and backpackers are at increased risk of sexually transmitted infections (STI). Concurrently, STI incidence, especially Chlamydia, is increasing among young Swedes. Our objective was to investigate Swedish backpackers' own view of sexual health and risks while travelling, with the purpose to identify hypotheses for further, more extensive research. METHOD: In-depth semi-structured interviews were carried out in Vietnam with four Swedish women in their early twenties. The interviewees had been travelling throughout South East Asia for a period of at least two weeks. RESULTS: There were large differences between the respondents regarding perceived health risks in relation to food safety, STI, and alcohol and drug use; and to what extent their behaviour while travelling deviated from their normal one. In contrast, the interviewees shared a perceived lack of knowledge about sexual health abroad. CONCLUSIONS: The study identified six hypotheses and suggestions for preventive measures that could be analysed in future research. The study demonstrated that sexual behaviour as well as attitudes and norms were strongly linked to the individual level, rather than to the group of backpackers.}},
  author       = {{Dahlman, Disa and Stafström, Martin}},
  issn         = {{1873-0442}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{4}},
  pages        = {{243--249}},
  publisher    = {{Elsevier}},
  series       = {{Travel Medicine and Infectious Disease}},
  title        = {{Female Swedish backpackers in Vietnam: A hypotheses generating study on sexual health risks while travelling.}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.tmaid.2013.04.005}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/j.tmaid.2013.04.005}},
  volume       = {{11}},
  year         = {{2013}},
}