Young people’s perceptions of sexual and reproductive health in regional and rural Queensland: capturing the views of adolescents through reference groups and a user-friendly electronic survey

Abstract

Service provision can be improved by training, and retaining friendly, attentive and non-judgemental staff. A model of service provision that includes general health care and provides sexual health services may increase the acceptability and accessibility of SRH services among youth. Additionally, our study highlights the need for choice between general and specialist SRH services.

Increasing access to sexual health care for rural and regional young people: Similarities and differences in the views of young people and service providers

“…30 Likewise, in this study, service providers recognised the negative impact of stigma, shame and embarrassment on health care-seeking behaviour. 23 Such networks may present the best way of promoting the 'friendliness' of a service. Young people themselves highlighted the influence of interpersonal factors by rating the attitudes of service providers as the most important marker of quality in a service.…”

“…23 Responses from young people between the ages of 15 years old (yo) and 24yo were gathered through peerfacilitated survey administration on tablet devices (iPads; Apple Inc., Cupertino, California, USA) at community events, university events, Family Planning Queensland clinics and shopping centres. The survey aimed to capture both young people utilising health services for SRH issues and those who have not accessed such services.…”

“…23 A total of 391 respondents from regional and rural Queensland were included in the analysis of the Young People's Survey. More complete findings from the Young People's Survey are presented elsewhere.…”

“…The survey demonstrated acceptable face validity and test-retest reliability. 23 Responses from young people between the ages of 15 years old (yo) and 24yo were gathered through peerfacilitated survey administration on tablet devices (iPads; Apple Inc., Cupertino, California, USA) at community events, university events, Family Planning Queensland clinics and shopping centres. An online version of the survey was also advertised through various youth networks at each of the study sites where available.…”

Access to contraception for remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women: necessary but not sufficient

“…In addition, Mazza and colleagues found that the rate of management of contraceptive problems was lower for Indigenous women attending for primary care than for non‐Indigenous women (4.48% v 6.15% of consultations), and that their contraceptive problems were much less frequently managed by male doctors 6 . The reality for people living in rural and remote Australia is that their access to services taken for granted by urban residents is limited, as is their choice of provider 7 . In terms of SRH, this is particularly apparent in terms of access to termination of pregnancy, tubal ligation, and insertion of intra‐uterine devices, where the limiting factor is often the lack of appropriately trained staff or of culturally acceptable services.…”