Sexual Health Attitudes, Knowledge, and Clinical Behaviors

Abstract

This article explores the impact of practitioners' attitudes and knowledge of sexual health on clinical behaviors. Sexual health topics are often areas of concern for clients of any age in counseling. Thus, counselors must be trained and equipped to address sexual health across the life span. This study explored whether child and adolescent clinical mental health staff's attitudes and knowledge of sexual health predicted their clinical behaviors. Results indicated that the practitioners' attitudes about sexual health, not their sexual health knowledge level, predicted whether or not they addressed sexual health with clients. Implications and suggestions for counselors and counselor educators are provided.

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

“…Results indicated that although students expressed overwhelming agreement with publicly funded contraception services, the majority did not believe that adolescents should be able to obtain emergency contraception without a doctor's prescription, even if parental approval was received. A study of sexual health attitudes of social workers and other mental health practitioners in an urban setting in the Northeastern United States (N = 158) indicated a clinician's attitude toward discussing sexual health with clients predicted whether a conversation would take place (Russell, 2012). Clinician knowledge regarding sexual health was not a significant predictor, when controlling for sexuality attitudes and beliefs, suggesting that providing sexual health education alone without attention to individual beliefs regarding sexuality may not encourage discussions regarding sexual behavior with clients (Russell, 2012).…”

Sexuality assessment: Nurses’ attitudes and beliefs toward sexuality

“…Buna göre [16] çalımasında da cinsellikle ilgili seminere katılmı olan hemirelerin cinsel sa¤lık de¤erlendirmesinde daha az engel hissettikleri belirtilmitir. Aynı ekilde Russell [27] çalımasında cinsel sa¤lık de¤erlendirmesi ve bakımı konusunda dersler ve e¤itimlerle kendini gelitiren sa¤lık personelinin kendini gelitirerek cinsel sa¤lık de¤erlendirmesi konusunda daha az engel hissetti¤ini belirtmektedir. Bu açıdan çalımamızın sonuçları literatürle benzerdir.…”

“…Hemirelerin hastanın bazı özelliklerine ilikin düünceleri kimi zaman önyargılara neden olarak hemirenin verece¤i cinsel sa¤lık bakımını etkileyebilmektedir. [16,27,28] Saunamäki ve Engström'ün [28] yaptıkları kalitatif çalımada hemireler, yalı ya da ciddi bir hastalı¤ı olan hastaların cinsellikle ilgili ihtiyaçları olmadı¤ını düündüklerini belirtmilerdir. Aynı ekilde Russell'ın [27] çalımasında da sa¤lık personelinin verdi¤i cinsel sa¤lık bakımı üzerinde hastanın yaının, cinsel yöneliminin, hatta cinsel yolla bulaan hastalık taımasının etkili oldu¤u belirtilmektedir.…”

The application of a feminist poststructural framework in nursing practice for addressing young women's sexual health

“…This becomes more pronounced when working with members of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Queer (LGBTQ) community. As such, it is important for nurses to have a comprehensive understanding of the sexuality and sexual health practices of their young female clients to provide the best possible care with confidence (Reynolds & Magnan , Russell ). We would also suggest that it is important for nurses to have an understanding of the dominant as well as less dominant social discourses about sexuality that influence all of us.…”