Improving the Sexual Health of Young People (under 25) in High-Risk Populations: A Systematic Review of Behavioural and Psychosocial Interventions

Brown, Edward H.; Monaco, Samantha Lo; O’Donoghue, Brian; Nolan, Hayley; Hughes, Elizabeth; Graham, Melissa; Simmons, Magenta; Gray, Richard

doi:10.3390/ijerph18179063

Cited by 6 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 69 publications

(147 reference statements)

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…1 The attainment and maintenance of positive sexual health is, therefore, contingent on a complex interplay of physical, psychological and social factors. 1 For young people, under 25 years, their continuing biological, social, psychological and emotional maturity may mean that positive sexual health is aspirational rather than their lived reality, with some engaging in 'high risk' sexual activity, 2 such as unprotected vaginal, anal or oral sex or sex while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. 3 Consequently, those under 25 years experience a disproportionate rate of new STIs and HIV infections…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

‘I wouldn’t trust it …’ Digital transformation of young people’s sexual health services: a systems-informed qualitative enquiry

Bennett,

Kelly,

Dunn

et al. 2023

bmjph

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

IntroductionDigital sexual health technologies for young people, such as websites, texting services and apps, could address some of the sexual health inequalities that many experience, since they have the potential to overcome concerns associated with traditional clinic based services such as embarrassment, privacy and accessibility. However, they are currently under-utilised internationally.MethodsUsing complexity theory and systems thinking as a theoretical framework, this qualitative descriptive study sought to explore the acceptability of digital sexual health technologies for 16–18 year olds. Data generation with 10 sexual health nurses with experience of digital service delivery took the form of minimally structured online one-to-one interviews lasting between 20 and 50 min. Focus groups of up to eight young people or individual interviews were used to explore 32 16–18 year olds’ perspectives. Interviews lasted between 18 and 48 min. Both datasets were analysed using Braun and Clarke’s reflexive thematic analysis.ResultsThree themes emerged from each dataset. Nurses’ themes were: (1) digital sexual health services can be more comfortable for young people, (2) digital sexual health services can be complimentary to clinic visits but do not replace them and (3) challenges exist in providing sexual health services to young people through digital technologies. The young people’s themes were: (1) sexual health is a ‘difficult issue’, (2) young people have specific expectations yet a desire for choice and (3) digital health interventions are not a panacea.ConclusionsWhile digital sexual health interventions hold great potential, they need to be integral to the wider systems in which both young people and sexual health promotion services operate, otherwise there is a risk that their impact will be compromised. Collaborative approaches that connect causal factors and policy objectives and involve full engagement with all stakeholders are more likely to be efficacious.

show abstract

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

‘I wouldn’t trust it …’ Digital transformation of young people’s sexual health services: a systems-informed qualitative enquiry

Bennett,

Kelly,

Dunn

et al. 2023

bmjph

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

Experience of telehealth for receipt of primary health care: an online survey of young people in a geographic region of Aotearoa New Zealand

Rose

Garrett

McKinlay

2023

Aust. J. Prim. Health

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background Telehealth became more widely used when the global COVID-19 pandemic restricted access to in-person consultations for primary care during periods of ‘lockdown’. Methods In 2021 (August–September), 15-to 25-year-olds in the Wellington region of Aotearoa New Zealand were invited to participate in an online survey that aimed to find out about telehealth experiences, perceived advantages and disadvantages, and willingness to use it for receipt of primary care. Results Surveys were completed by 346 participants, 133 of whom had ever used telehealth (38%). Overall, 73% (84/115) were happy with health care received via telehealth, but only 26% preferred it to in-person consultations. Perceived benefits related to convenience and time efficiency, but participants had concerns about the inability to be physically examined, technological issues, clarity around follow-up actions, payment and lack of privacy. All participants had access to a phone or device, yet almost half reported challenges with connectivity, coverage or data that might limit their ability to access telehealth (47.3%, 159/336). Half of participants wanted to use telehealth in future (preferring phone over video (160/315)). Conclusions Young people surveyed acknowledged the convenience of telehealth, but many were hesitant about receiving primary care in this way. Understanding young people’s reservations and provision of detailed information about what telehealth entails will help prepare and support them to use telehealth in future.

show abstract

Understanding the contents and gaps in sexual and reproductive health toolkits designed for adolescence and young adults: a scoping review

Castleton,

Meherali,

Memon

et al. 2024

Sexual Medicine Reviews

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Introduction Adolescence is a crucial stage of physical and sexual maturation and development and a period in which understanding sexual and reproductive health (SRH) is important. SRH interventions and toolkits provide a range of valuable resources and information to young people, educators, and members of the community on numerous topics, including contraception and puberty. Objectives The usefulness and reliability of these available toolkits have not been previously studied, thus limiting our understanding of their appropriateness and contents. Hence, this scoping review aimed to synthesize the available toolkits aimed at the SRH of adolescents and young adults to understand the contents, design, and information gaps. Methods A systematic search was conducted of 6 medical databases and 12 gray literature sites. Sixteen toolkits published globally before May 2023 were included in our review. Results The majority of toolkits (n = 12) contained information related to general SRH knowledge and contraception, whereas only 3 contained information on teenage pregnancy. We found that aiming the toolkits toward educators and health care workers was a favorable design over targeting adolescents and young adults directly and that vulnerable youth—including LGBTQI+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning, asexual or allied, intersex, and additional identities) and youth from humanitarian settings—were not well represented. Conclusion We identified key gaps in the inclusion of information in a range of SRH topics, such as LGBTQI+ sexuality, teenage pregnancy, and safe abortion, in the currently available SRH toolkits and their lack of applicability in a global context. Furthermore, we provide recommendations for areas of improvement to encourage adolescents’ agency in their SRH education.

show abstract

Improving the Sexual Health of Young People (under 25) in High-Risk Populations: A Systematic Review of Behavioural and Psychosocial Interventions

Cited by 6 publications

References 69 publications

‘I wouldn’t trust it …’ Digital transformation of young people’s sexual health services: a systems-informed qualitative enquiry

‘I wouldn’t trust it …’ Digital transformation of young people’s sexual health services: a systems-informed qualitative enquiry

Experience of telehealth for receipt of primary health care: an online survey of young people in a geographic region of Aotearoa New Zealand

Understanding the contents and gaps in sexual and reproductive health toolkits designed for adolescence and young adults: a scoping review

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About