摘要：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. SAN FRANCISCO, CALIF, HAS been experiencing an increase in gonorrhea among heterosexuals, particularly among African American youths aged 15 to 19 years. In this group, there were 45 more cases of gonorrhea in 2005 than in 2004, an increase of over 100%. 1 In 2005, African American women in San Francisco had a rate of gonorrhea that was 12 times the rate of White women—a 69% increase from 2004. 1 Contemporaneous with the rising sexually transmitted infection (STI) rates, mobile phone use has been increasing among the same populations. A survey by Dobkin et al. 2 revealed that 85% of San Francisco youths aged 12 to 24 years owned cellular phones, whereas the Pew/Internet & American Life Project found that 33% of all US adolescents aged 12 to 14 years and 66% of high school seniors own cellular phones. 3 In response to these trends, Internet Sexuality Information Services, Inc. (ISIS-Inc), in partnership with the San Francisco Department of Public Health (SFDPH), developed SEXINFO, a sexual health text messaging service in April 2006. The service was inspired by London’s Brook Centres’ program. 4 SEXINFO provides basic facts about sexual health and relationships, as well as referrals to youth-oriented clinical and social services. The service is opt-in, whereby youths text the word, “SEXINFO,” to a 5-digit number, then receive a phone tree with codes instructing them to text, for example: “B2 if u think ur pregnant,” “D4 to find out about HIV,” or “F8 if ur not sure u want to have sex.” No diagnoses are made over the system; instead, all messaging includes basic STI and HIV info and referrals for in-person consultation. There is a companion Web site ( http://www.sextextsf.org ), where parents and others can see sample messages online. SEXINFO cost $20 000 to develop, and initial marketing and evaluating cost $15 000. Maintenance costs $1500.
