Perceived monogamy and type of clinic as barriers to seeking care for suspected STD or HIV infection: Results from a brief survey of low-income womenattending women, infants, and children (WIC) clinics in Missouri

Background and Objectivess: Barriers to seeking rare for sexually transmitt ed diseases (STDs) have not been assessed for low-income women. We sought t o determine barriers to seeking care for STDs among women receiving Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) benefits in 21 Missouri counties. Goal of This Study: Provide information for promoting care-seeking behavior among low-income women suspecting STD infection. Study Design: A survey of 2,256 women was conducted; 491 reported a history of at least one STD. These women indicated possible barriers to seeing a d octor about a suspected STD and preference for type of clinic providing STD services. Results: More than one fifth (21.3%) of those reporting an STD also reporte d at least one barrier to seeing a doctor about suspected STD or human immu nodeficiency virus infection. Among those reporting barriers, the most comm on barrier was "I only have sex with my steady" (36.2%) followed by being a symptomatic (33.3%), embarrassment (22.8%), and cost (25.7%). Most (63.8%) preferred seeing their own doctor, with others reporting preference for com munity health centers (14.8%), family planning clinics (16.8%), and STD cli nics (4.6%). Conclusions: Low-income women experience multiple barriers to seeking care including perceptions about a protective value of monogamy. Also, STD servi ces in locations providing other health services for women were preferred.