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. 2008 Mar;98(3):393-5.
doi: 10.2105/AJPH.2007.110767. Epub 2008 Jan 30.

SEXINFO: a sexual health text messaging service for San Francisco youth

Deborah Levine  1 , Jacqueline McCright, Loren Dobkin, Andrew J Woodruff, Jeffrey D Klausner
Affiliations

SEXINFO: a sexual health text messaging service for San Francisco youth

Deborah Levine et al. Am J Public Health. 2008 Mar.

Abstract

In response to rising gonorrhea rates among African American youth in San Francisco, Calif, Internet Sexuality Information Services, Inc, in partnership with the San Francisco Department of Public Health, developed SEXINFO, a sexual health text messaging service. SEXINFO is an information and referral service that can be accessed by texting "SEXINFO" to a 5-digit number from any wireless phone. A consortium of community organizations, religious groups, and health agencies assisted with identifying culturally appropriate local referral services. We conducted focus group sessions among youth aged 15 to 19 years to discuss the viability of the service. Usage of the service has been greater than expected, and an initial evaluation to assess the impact of SEXINFO on increasing access to sexual health services among at-risk adolescents has had promising results.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Sample palm card used for marketing SEXINFO.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Sexually Transmitted Disease Prevention and Control Services. Increasing gonorrhea among African American heterosexuals in San Francisco: health advisory, March 28, 2006. San Francisco, Calif: San Francisco Department of Public Health; 2006.
    1. Dobkin L, Kent C, Klausner J, McCright J, Kohn R, Levine D. Is text messaging key to improving adolescent sexual health? J Adolesc Health. 2007;40 (suppl):S14.
    1. Lenhart A, Madden M, Hitlin P. Teens and Technology: Youth Are Leading the Transition to a Fully Wired and Mobile Nation. Available at: http://www.pewinternet.org/PPF/r/162/report_display.asp. Accessed April 11, 2007.
    1. Teenagers to get safe sex texts. BBC News; November 10, 2004. Available at: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/3993963.stm. Accessed April 11, 2007.
    1. Moss N, Gallaread A, Siller J, Klausner JD. “Street medicine”: collaborating with a faith-based organization to screen at-risk youths for sexually transmitted diseases. Am J Public Health. 2004;94:1081–1084. - PMC - PubMed

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