Key Elements of Counseling STI Clients

Source of the infection

All clients should understand what infection they have and, in the case of STIs, that the infection was transmitted sexually.

In some places, health care providers often fail to inform women, particularly married women, that the source of their infection was sexual transmission in order to avoid insinuating that the husband was unfaithful or to prevent marital problems.

However, it is essential that clients understand how they were infected in order to learn how to protect themselves and reduce the risk that they will become reinfected.

Potential complications

Clients should be informed of any potential complications of the infection, particularly if the infection is an incurable STI.

Informing and treating partners

As discussed in the previous section of this module, the provider should discuss the importance of treating partners and options for informing the client’s partner(s) of the infection to ensure that they can be treated as well.

Options offered must be realistic, and the provider should consider the potential ramifications for the client. Since trust is very often the basis of a relationship, informing a partner after being diagnosed with an STI can cause problems for the relationship and can put a woman at risk of abuse or violence. The health care provider should be prepared to assist by supporting the client in his or her search for the most appropriate way to inform the partner.

Adherence to treatment

The client must understand the importance of treatment compliance to ensure that the infection is fully cured. Failure to comply with a full course of treatment can result in complications of the infection, transmission to partners, and development of drug-resistant strains.

Abstinence during treatment

The client should understand the importance of abstinence from sexual activity or practicing safer sex if sex cannot be avoided during the course of treatment until the STI is cured.

In general, the client should avoid sex for seven days (or in the case of ulcerative STIs, until sores are completely healed) to make sure he or she does not pass the infection to others. In addition, the client should avoid sex until any partner completes treatment (or for seven days if single-dose therapy is used) so the client does not get reinfected.

Safer sex includes nonpenetrative sex (sex without genital/genital, oral/genital, or anal/genital contact) and the use of latex or polyurethane barrier protection (male and female condoms) during anal, oral, or vaginal sex.

Prevention

The client must be counseled about prevention of future infections, including safer sex practices. Clients with incurable STIs must receive more extensive counseling about how to reduce the likelihood of infecting future partners. All clients diagnosed with an STI should be offered condoms and shown how to use them properly. (The “Making It Work” section of this module contains tools to help providers when discussing prevention with clients.)

HIV testing

Depending on availability, it may be appropriate to suggest that clients consider HIV testing. People with STIs may be more likely to have acquired HIV since HIV and other STIs share common modes of transmission, and STIs facilitate HIV transmission.

Course Home | Module Home Index | Glossary | Help | Next Page

© 2007 EngenderHealth