MSW student perceptions of sexual health as relevant to the profession: Do social work educational experiences matter?

Abstract

Many social work clients are at an increased risk for negative outcomes related to sexual behavior, including unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections (STIs). However, there is a dearth of literature on social work student experiences with these topics in social work classrooms and their perceptions about the topic's relevance to their practice. The purpose of this study is to explore relationships between experiences with STIs and contraception as topics in social work education and practica experiences on student perceptions toward sexual health as a relevant topic for social work. Among a national sample of MSW students (N = 443), experiences with STIs and contraception as topics in practica was significantly related to perceptions toward sexual health's relevance to social work. Findings and implications are discussed.

Piloting a Research-Oriented Teaching Model in a Bachelor Program for Social Educators – A Way to Increase Competence in Research Methodology and Sexual Health?

“…Students and professionals in nursing, occupational therapy, physiotherapy and social work have reported inadequate training in the field, and clients/patients have presented their experiences of meeting professionals in different situations, where a lack of competence in sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHRs) has been shown (Aaberg, 2016;Areskoug-Josefsson & Fristedt, 2017;Areskoug-Josefsson & Gard, 2015;Blakey & Aveyard, 2017;Dunk, 2007;Logie, Bogo, & Katz, 2015;Papaharitou et al, 2008;Saunamaki, Andersson, & Engstrom, 2010;Saunamaki & Engstrom, 2014;Schaub, Willis, & Dunk-West, 2017;Winter, O'Neill, Begun, Kattari, & McKay, 2016). Sexual health is included in programs for social educators, but there is lack of research regarding the level of students' comfort and competence in addressing sexual health with clients and how their education increases their ability to address sexual health in a professional way in their future work.…”

Education for sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR): a mapping of SRHR-related content in higher education in health care, police, law and social work in Sweden

“…In studies from Europe and North America, knowledge of different aspects of sexual health, sexuality and SRHR has been shown to be insufficient among students and professionals in nursing, occupational therapy, physiotherapy and social work. Students and professionals report inadequate training and clients/patients describe their experience of meeting professionals in contexts where lack of competence in SRHR is revealed (Aaberg 2016;Areskoug-Josefsson and Fristedt 2017;Areskoug-Josefsson and Gard 2015;Areskoug-Josefsson et al 2016;Blakey and Aveyard 2017;Dunk 2007;Logie, Bogo, and Katz 2015;Papaharitou et al 2008;Saunamaki and Engstrom 2014;Schaub, Willis, and Dunk-West 2017;Winter et al 2016).…”

“…Culture plays a role in defining what is considered normal, what is seen as abnormal, and the underlying factors behind these assumptions (Atallah et al 2016;Bhavsar and Bhugra 2013). To have a positive effect on health outcomes for the individual and the population, it is important that the curriculum is well designed (Frenk et al 2010), making it possible to achieve the competencies needed for work related to SRHR (Winter et al 2016).…”

Swedish Social Work Students’ Attitudes Toward Addressing Sexual Health Issues in Their Future Profession

“…Social work also includes advocating effectively for social justice and responding to global realities, which is connected to sexual and reproductive health and rights [2]. Social workers find sexual health issues relevant to their clinical work, and yet there has been a lack of education in this field in social work education [3,4]. In addition, there seems to have been low commitment to integrating these issues into existing curricula in social education programs [5,6].…”

“…To understand how to best educate social work students regarding sexual health, it is essential to explore the current state of social work students' attitudes and perceived competence and educational needs regarding communicating about sexual health in their future profession. Exploring the current situation is also important since beliefs about sexuality and sexual health can be individually fashioned, dependent on previous education and contextual factors [3,5,8]. To enable social workers to handle sexual health issues successfully, it is therefore vital that knowledge about sexual and reproductive health is included in undergraduate education at universities and colleges [9].…”