Allison M Baker1, Jaquelyn L Jahn1, Andy S L Tan1,2,3, Sabra L Katz-Wise1,4,5, Kasisomayajula Viswanath1,2, Rachel A Bishop1,6, Madina Agénor1,7,8,9. 1. Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA. 2. Division of Population Sciences, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA. 3. Annenberg School for Communication, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA. 4. Division of Adolescent/Young Adult Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA. 5. Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA. 6. Executive Office of Health & Human Services, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Boston, MA, USA. 7. Department of Community Health, Tufts University, Medford, MA, USA. 8. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA. 9. The Fenway Institute, Fenway Health, Boston, MA, USA.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Young adult sexual minority women (SMW) have unique sexual health needs and higher rates of some poor sexual health outcomes compared to their heterosexual peers. Unequal access to relevant sexual health information may contribute to sexual orientation disparities in sexual health among women, but research on sexual health communication among SMW is sparse. METHODS: In-depth interviews conducted in 2016-2017 investigated sexual health communication in a sample of 29 racially/ethnically diverse cisgender women and non-binary individuals assigned female at birth who were between 19 and 36 years of age and identified as a sexual minority. Data were analyzed using a thematic analysis approach that involved inductive and deductive coding to identify themes. RESULTS: Three broad themes were identified: 1) sources of sexual health information; 2) sexual health information needs; and 3) preferences for sexual health information delivery. Participants discussed and critiqued the Internet, other mass media, health care providers, school-based sex education, family, and peers/partners as sources of sexual health information. Participants expressed a need for customized, non-heteronormative information pertaining to sexually transmitted infection risk and prevention. They preferred receiving information from health care providers, the Internet, and other mass media, and some also suggested school-based sex education and peer education as methods for delivering information. CONCLUSIONS: Participants expressed clear desires for relevant, high-quality sexual health information delivered through a variety of channels, especially the Internet, other mass media, and health care providers. POLICY IMPLICATIONS: Findings call for policies that improve provision of sexual health information through health care providers, online resources, and school-based sex education.
BACKGROUND: Young adult sexual minority women (SMW) have unique sexual health needs and higher rates of some poor sexual health outcomes compared to their heterosexual peers. Unequal access to relevant sexual health information may contribute to sexual orientation disparities in sexual health among women, but research on sexual health communication among SMW is sparse. METHODS: In-depth interviews conducted in 2016-2017 investigated sexual health communication in a sample of 29 racially/ethnically diverse cisgender women and non-binary individuals assigned female at birth who were between 19 and 36 years of age and identified as a sexual minority. Data were analyzed using a thematic analysis approach that involved inductive and deductive coding to identify themes. RESULTS: Three broad themes were identified: 1) sources of sexual health information; 2) sexual health information needs; and 3) preferences for sexual health information delivery. Participants discussed and critiqued the Internet, other mass media, health care providers, school-based sex education, family, and peers/partners as sources of sexual health information. Participants expressed a need for customized, non-heteronormative information pertaining to sexually transmitted infection risk and prevention. They preferred receiving information from health care providers, the Internet, and other mass media, and some also suggested school-based sex education and peer education as methods for delivering information. CONCLUSIONS: Participants expressed clear desires for relevant, high-quality sexual health information delivered through a variety of channels, especially the Internet, other mass media, and health care providers. POLICY IMPLICATIONS: Findings call for policies that improve provision of sexual health information through health care providers, online resources, and school-based sex education.
Entities:
Keywords:
Communication inequalities; Health communication; LGBTQ young adults; Qualitative research; Sex education
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