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Sexual Minority Women's Sexual and Reproductive Health Literacy: A Qualitative Descriptive Study.

ABSTRACT: Although sexual minority women (SMW) are at risk for cervical cancer and sexually transmitted infections (STIs), they may not seek preventative sexual and reproductive health care at the same rates as their heterosexual peers. We conducted a qualitative descriptive study of 22 adult SMW, a subsample of participants enrolled in the Chicago Health and Life Experiences of Women study. The aim was to describe the sexual and reproductive health literacy of this community sample based on qualitative themes, using an integrated model of health literacy. This model considers not only access to information but also understanding, appraisal, and application of information. We found that family of origin, health care providers, and school-based sexual education were the most important sources of sexual and reproductive health information. Participants described their understanding, appraisal, and application of sexual and reproductive health information as interdependent concepts. Pap test literacy and decision making were strongly independent, with SMW seeking various sources of information, or were driven by health care providers, with SMW following instructions and trusting provider advice. STI-related literacy hinged on whether the participant perceived SMW as at risk for STIs. Our findings reinforce that simply having access to information is insufficient to enact health behaviors that reflect full literacy. Findings have implications for health care providers, who should provide evidence-based recommendations for their SMW clients, and for public health practitioners and educators, who could make sexual health education more inclusive of and specific to the needs of SMW.

SUBMITTER: Paschen-Wolff MM

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7568910 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Sexual Minority Women's Sexual and Reproductive Health Literacy: A Qualitative Descriptive Study.

Paschen-Wolff Margaret M MM Greene Madelyne Z MZ Hughes Tonda L TL

Health education & behavior : the official publication of the Society for Public Health Education 20200606 5

Although sexual minority women (SMW) are at risk for cervical cancer and sexually transmitted infections (STIs), they may not seek preventative sexual and reproductive health care at the same rates as their heterosexual peers. We conducted a qualitative descriptive study of 22 adult SMW, a subsample of participants enrolled in the Chicago Health and Life Experiences of Women study. The aim was to describe the sexual and reproductive health literacy of this community sample based on qualitative t ...[more]

PMID: 32506954

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Project description:Globally, women are at increased vulnerability to HIV due to biological, social, structural, and political reasons. Women living with HIV also experience unique issues related to their medical and social healthcare, which makes a clinical care model specific to their needs worthy of exploration. Furthermore, there is a dearth of research specific to women living with HIV. Research for this population has often been narrowly focused on pregnancy-related issues without considering their complex structural inequalities, social roles, and healthcare and biological needs. For these reasons, we have come together, as researchers, clinicians and community members in Canada, to develop the Canadian HIV Women's Sexual and Reproductive Health Cohort Study (CHIWOS) to investigate the concept of women-centred HIV care (WCHC) and its impact on the overall, HIV, women's, mental, sexual, and reproductive health outcomes of women living with HIV. Here, we present the CHIWOS cohort profile, which describes the cohort and presents preliminary findings related to perceived WCHC. CHIWOS is a prospective, observational cohort study of women living with HIV in British Columbia (BC), Ontario, and Quebec. Two additional Canadian provinces, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, will join the cohort in 2018. Using community-based research principles, CHIWOS engages women living with HIV throughout the entire research process meeting the requirements of the 'Greater Involvement of People living with HIV/AIDS'. Study data are collected through an interviewer-administered questionnaire that uses a web-based platform. From August 2013 to May 2015, a total of 1422 women living with HIV in BC, Ontario, and Quebec were enrolled and completed the baseline visit. Follow-up interviews are being conducted at 18-month intervals. Of the 1422 participants at baseline, 356 were from BC (25%), 713 from Ontario (50%), 353 from Quebec (25%). The median age of the participants at baseline was 43 years (range, 16-74). 22% identified as Indigenous, 30% as African, Caribbean or Black, 41% as Caucasian/White, and 7% as other ethnicities. Overall, 83% of women were taking antiretroviral therapy at the time of the baseline interview and of them, 87% reported an undetectable viral load. Of the 1326 women who received HIV medical care in the previous year and responded to corresponding questions, 57% (95% CI: 54%-60%) perceived that the care they received from their primary HIV doctor had been women-centred. There were provincial and age differences among women who indicated that they received WCHC versus not; women from BC or Ontario were more likely to report WCHC compared to participants in Quebec. They were also more likely to be younger. CHIWOS will be an important tool to develop care models specific for women living with HIV. Moreover, CHIWOS is collecting extensive information on socio-demographics, social determinants of health, psychological factors, and sexual and reproductive health and offers an important platform to answer many relevant research questions for and with women living with HIV. Information on the cohort can be found on the study website (http://www.chiwos.ca).

Project description:RationaleAdolescent pregnancy in Lao PDR is the highest in Southeast Asia. It leads to negative health and social consequences in young people. It is anticipated that this problem is partly caused by limited sexual and reproductive health literacy (SRHL), leading to poor sexual and reproductive health (SRH) decisions. Based on the concept of health literacy, SRHL goes beyond knowledge and behavior and is the self-perceived ability of an individual to access the needed information, understand the information, appraise and apply the information into informed decision making for a good way to contribute to sexual and reproductive health. It is not only knowing (knowledge) and doing (behavior), but it is the process of individual's thought on an SRH problem before taking an action. The aim of this study was to measure SRHL among school-going adolescents aged 15-19 and to determine factors associated with SRHL.MethodWe conducted a cross-sectional study in rural and urban areas of Lao PDR in 2017. Respondents completed a self-administered questionnaire with five parts: socio-demographic, personal health, SRH knowledge and behavior, SRHL, and functional literacy. We calculated the SRHL score based on the HL-EU index and used descriptive statistics to determine the score and levels. Then we used bivariate statistics and multiple linear regression to identify factors associated with SRHL in these adolescents.ResultAmong 461 respondents, 65.5% had inadequate SRHL. Scores were positively and significantly associated with several factors, including: school location (β: 3.218; p<0.001), knowledge on SRH and attending SR class in school (p:0.010-p<0.001), and functional literacy on condoms, which reflected how respondents understood the use of condoms (β: 0.871; p<0.001).ConclusionBecause most school adolescents had inadequate SRHL, comprehensive sexual education and enabling information as well as service access for adolescents are essential to ensure that adolescents can access, understand, appraise and apply good SRH knowledge in decision-making to benefit their own health.

Project description:OBJECTIVES:Despite research documenting significant health disparities among sexual minority women (lesbian, bisexual, and other non-heterosexual women) in high-income countries, few studies of sexual minority women's health have been conducted in low- and middle-income countries. The purpose of this scoping review was to examine the empirical literature related to the health disparities and health needs of sexual minority women in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), and to identify research gaps and priorities. DESIGN:A scoping review methodology was used. DATA SOURCES:We conducted a comprehensive search of seven electronic databases. The search strategy combined keywords in three areas: sexual minority women, health, and LAC. English, Spanish, and Portuguese language studies published through 2017 in peer-reviewed journals were included. REVIEW METHODS:A total 1471 articles were retrieved. An additional 5 articles were identified following descendancy search; 3 of these met inclusion criteria. After removal of duplicates and title and abstract screening, we screened the full text of 37 articles, of which 22 (representing 18 distinct studies) met inclusion criteria. At least two authors independently reviewed and abstracted data from all articles. RESULTS:More than half of the studies were conducted in Brazil (n?=?9) and Mexico (n?=?5). Sexual health was the most studied health issue (n?=?11). Sexual minority women were at elevated risk for sexually transmitted infections related to low use of barrier contraceptive methods during sexual encounters with men. Findings suggest that sexual minority women are generally distrustful of healthcare providers and view the healthcare system as heteronormative. Providers are believed to lack the knowledge and skills to provide culturally competent care to sexual minority women. Sexual minority women generally reported low levels of sexual health education and reluctance in seeking preventive screenings due to fear of mistreatment from healthcare providers. Sexual minority women also reported higher rates of poor mental health, disordered eating, and substance use (current tobacco and alcohol use) than heterosexual women. Gender-based violence was identified as a significant concern for sexual minority women in LAC. CONCLUSIONS:Significant knowledge gaps regarding sexual minority women's health in LAC were identified. Additional investigation of understudied areas where health disparities have been observed in other global regions is needed. Future research should explore how the unique social stressors sexual minority women experience impact their health. Nurses and other healthcare providers in the region need training in providing culturally appropriate care for this population.

Dataset Information

Sexual Minority Women's Sexual and Reproductive Health Literacy: A Qualitative Descriptive Study.

Publications

Sexual Minority Women's Sexual and Reproductive Health Literacy: A Qualitative Descriptive Study.

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