The determinants of health care seeking behaviour of adolescents attendingSTD clinics in South Africa

The study investigated the determinants of delay behaviour in health care s eeking in a sample of 292 adolescent patients (20 years and younger) with S TD symptoms. Fifty six percent (56%) of the adolescents sought health care within the first 6 days of noticing symptoms, 23% waited between 7 to 10 da ys and 21% waited longer than 10 days before seeking health care. Early hea lth care seeking was determined by perceived seriousness of STDs, an absenc e of self treatment prior to seeking care and positive attitudes regarding personal autonomy in condom use behaviour. Facilitation of early health car e seeking remain critical in curbing the threat of AIDS among the South Afr ican youth. (C) 2000 The Association for Professionals in Services for Adol escents.