SEXINFO: A Sexual Health Text Messaging Service for San Francisco Youth
- 1 March 2008
- journal article
- Published by American Public Health Association in American Journal of Public Health
- Vol. 98 (3) , 393-395
- https://doi.org/10.2105/ajph.2007.110767
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.Keywords
This publication has 2 references indexed in Scilit:
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- “Street Medicine”: Collaborating With a Faith-Based Organization to Screen At-Risk Youths for Sexually Transmitted DiseasesAmerican Journal of Public Health, 2004