Views and attitudes towards Gonorrhoea and safer-sex behaviours v1
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A qualitative study exploring the views and attitudes towards Gonorrhoea and engagement with safer-sex behaviours in adults who have had a recent diagnosis, across the East of England
IRAS ID
357450
Contact name
Kate Cheng
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Staffordshire
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 9 months, 31 days
Research summary
Neisseria gonorrhoea, otherwise more commonly known as Gonorrhoea, is consistently the second most frequently diagnosed bacterial Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) in England. There are also a growing number of cases of antimicrobial resistance against Gonorrhoea, meaning that it is becoming harder to treat with certain types of antibiotics which is a major Public Health concern. Gonorrhoea can be easily prevented through safer-sex STI prevention behaviours such as condom-use and early testing. Despite this, the data shows large increases in the number of Gonorrhoea diagnoses in recent years, particularly among younger cohorts aged up to thirty-four years. There is currently limited research which explores the reasons why people in this age group may be choosing to disengage with STI prevention behaviours for the prevention of Gonorrhoea infection and the attitudes and views relating to this. This current research aims to fill this gap. Qualitative interviews and the collection of demographic data through an online survey, will be conducted with consenting participants aged between 18-34 years, diagnosed with Gonorrhoea within the past 12 months and identified through iCaSH Sexual Health clinics across the East of England. Participants will be asked questions to explore their views and attitudes towards Gonorrhoea and engaging with safer-sex behaviours, such as condom use and early testing, for the prevention of Gonorrhoea. Participants will be asked to consider their own experiences of Gonorrhoea and will be asked on their views towards antimicrobial resistant Gonorrhoea and the newly approved Gonorrhoea vaccine. The study is planned to recruit and interview participants within a 4 month data collection period. Participant interviews will be transcribed and analysed using qualitative thematic analysis whilst the survey data will be analysed quantitatively using descriptive statistics. The researcher is aiming to formally publish the research findings of this study.
REC name
West Midlands - Coventry & Warwickshire Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
26/WM/0030
Date of REC Opinion
26 Mar 2026
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion