‘Most young men think you have to be naked in front of the GP’: a qualitative study of male university students’ views on barriers to sexual health

Sexual Health ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 124 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cameron Ewert ◽  
Archibald Collyer ◽  
Meredith Temple-Smith
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
General Practice ◽  
Sexual Health ◽  
University Students ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Young Men ◽  
Sexual Health Education ◽  
Sexual Health Care ◽  
Sexual Health Information ◽  
Male University Students

Background In Australia, 15- to 29-year-olds account for 75% of all sexually transmissible infection (STI) diagnoses. STI rates among young men are rising, with most diagnosed in general practice. Young men less frequently attend general practice than young women, and rarely present with sexual health issues, making it difficult for general practitioners (GPs) to offer opportunistic STI education and screening. Little is known of the barriers preventing male university students accessing general practice for sexual health care, or what would facilitate this. Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with young men aged 18–24 years attending university between 2012 and 2014. Interviews were recorded, transcribed and analysed using content and thematic analysis. Results: Twenty-eight interviews of 26–50 min duration found self-imposed views of masculinity, privacy and embarrassment as key barriers to accessing GPs for sexual health care. This was compounded by poor STI knowledge and not knowing when or where to go for care. Participants, except if they were international students, acknowledged school as an important source of sexual health education. The need for sexual health education at university was identified. While the Internet was a popular source, there were mixed views on the benefits of social media and text messaging for sexual health promotion. Conclusions: Current expectations of young male university students to seek sexual health care or acquire sexual health information from medical care may be misplaced. Universities have an excellent opportunity to provide young men with appropriate sexual health information and could offer novel strategies to help young men look after their sexual health.

Dr Google, porn and friend-of-a-friend: where are young men really getting their sexual health information?

Sexual Health ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 12 (6) ◽  
pp. 488 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amy Litras ◽  
Sarah Latreille ◽  
Meredith Temple-Smith
Keyword(s):  
Health Education ◽  
Sexual Health ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Young Men ◽  
Innovative Technology ◽  
Sexual Health Education ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Sexual Health Information ◽  
School Based ◽  
Sexually Transmissible Infections

Background Young men are vulnerable when it comes to sexual health. They attend the general practitioner (GP) less often than females and are less likely to be offered testing for sexually transmissible infections. Access to accurate health information and education is a cornerstone of primary prevention, yet we know very little about how, where and why young people obtain information about sexual health. Methods: One-on-one semi-structured interviews were conducted with 35 male students aged 16–19 years from two Victorian educational institutions for trade skills until data saturation was reached. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed and thematically analysed. Results: The young men were poorly informed about sexual health. Their existing knowledge mainly came from school-based sexual health education, which while valued, was generally poorly recalled and provided only a narrow scope of physiological information. Young men seek sexual health information from various sources including family, the Internet, friends and pornography, with information from the latter three sources perceived as unreliable. GPs were seen as a source of trust-worthy information but were not accessed for this purpose due to embarrassment. Young men preferred the GP to initiate such conversations. A desire for privacy and avoidance of embarrassment heavily influenced young men’s preferences and behaviours in relation to sexual health information seeking. Conclusions: The current available sources of sexual health information for young men are failing to meet their needs. Results identify potential improvements to school-based sexual education and online resources, and describe a need for innovative technology-based sources of sexual health education.

scholarly journals University students’ behaviours towards accessing sexual health information and treatment

2019 ◽  
Vol 30 (7) ◽  
pp. 671-679
Author(s):  
Benjamin J Gray ◽  
Adam T Jones ◽  
Zoë Couzens ◽  
Tracey Sagar ◽  
Debbie Jones
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Health ◽  
University Students ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Family Doctor ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Apparent Lack ◽  
Family Doctors ◽  
Sexual Health Information ◽  
Sexual Health Clinics ◽  
The Uk

Globally, it is widely recognised that young people (those under the age of 25 years) are at a higher risk of developing sexually transmitted infections (STIs). The majority of university students studying in the UK fall within this age bracket, and to help prevent such high incidence of STIs in this age group, it is essential that advice and treatment, if required, are obtained from reliable sources. This study sought to explore sources of sexual heath advice and treatment for students at Welsh universities (n = 3007). The main sources of advice were identified as the internet (49.1%) and GP/family doctors (38.9%), whilst local sexual health clinics (24.9%) and GP/family doctor services (20.2%) were the main sources for treatment in students. Males were more likely than females to report never needing advice (AOR 2.74; CI = 2.24–3.35) or requiring treatment (AOR 1.37; CI = 1.17–1.60). The apparent lack of engagement with these services by male students is a cause for concern, although one possible solution could be to further develop online methods to increase uptake of testing. Furthermore, the popularity of the internet for advice provides a timely reminder that regulation of online sexual health information is critical.

scholarly journals Sexual health care of two generations of men: continuities and volatilities of scripts and habitus

2015 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 259-272 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bruno José Barcellos Fontanella ◽  
Romeu Gomes
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Sexual Health ◽  
Young Men ◽  
Sexual Scripts ◽  
Three Dimensions ◽  
Male Sexuality ◽  
Next Generation ◽  
Sexual Health Care ◽  
Two Generations

To acquire in-depth understanding of meanings attributed by young men to sexual health care, the similarities and asymmetries present in a corpus of 60 reports of men from two different generations were analyzed regarding this type of care. A process of in-depth hermeneutics was undertaken under the theoretical sociological perspectives of sexual scripts, male habitus and generation. Fifteen analytical categories were grouped together into the three dimensions of sexual scripts (intra-psychic, interpersonal and cultural). Some findings indicate the presence of provisions which were not enduring and have not been transposed to the next generation. However, striking cultural similarities or habitus around male sexuality were also found in the two different socio-historical contexts, allowing for an interpretation on the as yet inconstant use of condoms among the young.

General Practice funding to improve provision of adolescent primary sexual health care in New Zealand: results from an observational intervention

Sexual Health ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 203 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jane Morgan ◽  
Jarrod Haar
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
General Practice ◽  
New Zealand ◽  
Sexual Health ◽  
Population Data ◽  
Sexual Health Care ◽  
Published Evidence ◽  
Lower Socioeconomic ◽  
Additional Funding ◽  
Gp Visits

Background: Free general practice (GP) sexual health visits for registered adolescents have been introduced in parts of New Zealand with the aim of improving provision of primary sexual health care. Published evidence of the effectiveness of such health care interventions, particularly around any impact on uptake of testing and detection of Chlamydia trachomatis, is limited. Methods: In 2003–2004, additional funding enabled 20 practices in Waikato, New Zealand to offer free sexual health consultations for registered under-25 year olds. Practice selection was non-random and biased towards lower socioeconomic, Māori and rural populations. Registered population data were linked to laboratory testing for C. trachomatis from January 2003 to December 2005. Twenty-nine practices without additional funding served as controls. Results: Chlamydia testing among under-25 year olds at the 20 intervention practices increased over time, in contrast to non-intervention practices, with coverage of females aged 18–24 years within the intervention increasing from 13.9% in 2003, to 15.5% during the roll-out phase and to 16.8% in 2005. Intervention practices had higher test positivity rates than non-intervention practices (8.7% v. 5.9%, P < 0.01) with increases in test positivity, from 7.7% in 2003 to 10% in 2005, relating mainly to increases in positive tests among females aged less than 25 years. There was no increase in testing or detection among those aged 25 years and older at intervention practices. Conclusions: Introducing free GP visits for under-25 year olds living in rural and lower socioeconomic areas in New Zealand was associated with a significant increase in testing and detection for C. trachomatis in the target age group. This observational intervention supports the ongoing provision of free adolescent primary sexual health care.

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