scholarly journals Working with Aboriginal young people in sexual health research: a peer research methodology in remote Australia

2020 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 16-28
Author(s):  
Stephen Bell ◽  
Peter Aggleton ◽  
Andrew Lockyer ◽  
Tellisa Ferguson ◽  
Walbira Murray ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Young People ◽  
Sexual Health ◽  
Research Methodology ◽  
Health Research ◽  
Aboriginal People ◽  
Northern Territory ◽  
Self Determination ◽  
Health Study ◽  
Community Control ◽  
Remote Setting

In a context of ongoing colonization and dispossession in Australia, many Aboriginal people live with experiences of health research that is done “on” rather than “with” or “by” them. Recognizing the agency of young people and contributing to Aboriginal self-determination and community control of research, we used a peer research methodology involving Aboriginal young people as researchers, advisors, and participants in a qualitative sexual health study in one remote setting in the Northern Territory, Australia. We document the methodology, while critically reflecting on its benefits and limitations as a decolonizing method. Findings confirm the importance of enabling Aboriginal young people to play a central role in research with other young people about their own sexual health. Future priorities include developing more enduring forms of coinvestigation with Aboriginal young people beyond data collection during single studies, and support for young researchers to gain formal qualifications to enhance future employability.

scholarly journals 268An online survey of sexual health, knowledge and behaviour of young South Australians

2021 ◽  
Vol 50 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen Harfield ◽  
Salenna Elliott ◽  
Tambri Housen ◽  
James Ward
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Young People ◽  
Sexual Health ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Health Knowledge ◽  
Aboriginal People ◽  
Aboriginal Peoples ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Public Health Action ◽  
Sexual Health Knowledge

Abstract Background Since 2010 rates of sexually transmitted infections (STIs-chlamydia, gonorrhoea and syphilis) have been increasing among young Australians. Most STIs are diagnosed in young people aged 16-29 and rates of diagnosis are higher among Aboriginal people than non-Aboriginal people. Little information exists to understand social and behavioural issues associated with increasing rate of STIs, especially in South Australia and among Aboriginal peoples. Methods We undertook an online cross-sectional survey of sexual health, knowledge and behaviour of young South Australians aged 16-29 years during a six-week period in 2019. Descriptive analysis, univariate and adjusted logistic regression models were used to compare Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal participants. Results In total 2,380 South Australians participated in the “Let’s Talk About It” (LTAI-2019); 52% were female, the median age was 20 years (IQR:17-24) and 10% of participants identified as Aboriginal. Regression analysis suggested among both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal participants being female (aOR 2.41, CI:1.07-3.51, & 3.03, 2.17-4.23 respectively) and not using a condom during last sexual encounter (2.33, 1.03-5.29 & 1.62, 1.15-2.27) were associated with ever being tested for an STI and having two or more sexual partners in the past 12 months (1.37, 0.67-7.45 & 3.13, 1.31-7.45) was associated with testing positive for an STI. Conclusions LTAI-2019 is the first study to describe factors associated with STIs among young South Australians. It is evident that young people are engaged in behaviours which increase their risk of acquiring STIs. Public health action which considers these behaviours particularly those that target young Aboriginal people is required. Key messages LTAI 2019 is the first study to describe current sexual health, knowledge, behaviours and access to health services for STIs and related issues amongst young South Australians. It provides evidence that is useful for informing both public health practice and policy, and the development of STIs preventative health programs.

scholarly journals Enabling Culturally Safe Sexual Health Services in Western Sydney: a Protocol to Improve Outcomes for Aboriginal Young People.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ashley John Ubrihien ◽  
Kylie Gwynne ◽  
David A. Lewis
Keyword(s):  
Young People ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Sexual Health ◽  
Research Ethics ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Aboriginal People ◽  
Ethics Committee ◽  
Local Health ◽  
Human Research Ethics ◽  
Aboriginal Elders

Abstract Aboriginal people face challenges on several fronts when it comes to the health and wellbeing of their community, compared to the rest of the Australian population. This is no different in urban areas such as Australia’s largest urban Aboriginal community located in Blacktown, NSW, where sexually transmitted infections remain an issue of concern. Across Australia, rates of Infectious Syphilis Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Hepatitis C infection have increased by 400%, 260%, and 15% respectively while Gonorrhoea decreased 12% in the 5-year period from 2013 to 2017. This study explores how to address the barriers that prevent young Aboriginal people under 30 years of age accessing public Sexual Health Services.MethodsPurposeful qualitative sampling will be undertaken to recruit 20 male and 20 female health consumers, 10 Aboriginal Elders and 10 sexual health clinicians. This recruitment will be undertaken with the assistance of local Aboriginal organisations and Western Sydney Local Health District (WSLHD). Participants will be interviewed on a one on one basis using semi structured interviews and participants will be interviewed by someone of the same gender in order to address cultural preferences. Data collected will be analysed using NVivo and by conducting a thematic analysis.DiscussionThis study will seek to add to the literature that explores why young Aboriginal people do not access sexual health services. This study seeks to understand the experience of clinicians, Aboriginal Elders and Aboriginal young people to provide practical policy and clinical redesign evidence that can be used to improve the experience and cultural safety of sexual health services in urban areas of Australia. The results of the qualitative research will be disseminated with the assistance of participating local Aboriginal organisations and the findings will be published through peer-reviewed scientific journals and conference presentations.Trial registrationThe study is approved by Western Sydney Local Health District Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC/16/WMEAD/449) and the New South Wales Aboriginal Health and Medical Research Council’s Human Research Ethics Committee (1220/16).

scholarly journals 'It's my diabetes': Co-production in practice with young people in delivering a 'perfect' care pathway for diabetes

2018 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 289-303
Author(s):  
Darren Sharpe ◽  
Emma Green ◽  
Angela Harden ◽  
Rachelle Freer ◽  
Abdul Moodambail ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Young People ◽  
Health Service ◽  
Health Research ◽  
Research Team ◽  
Care Pathway ◽  
Ethnically Diverse ◽  
Service Design ◽  
Health Study ◽  
The Future ◽  
One Year

This paper considers how young people can help commissioners and providers better understand and address the options and barriers of delivering a perfect care pathway. This applied health study was funded by the National Institute of Health Research (NIHR) in England and a local clinical commissioning group (CCG) responsible for the organization and delivery of NHS services in a socially deprived, ethnically diverse urban locality. The research team was mixed – in terms of age, ethnicity, faith-identities and backgrounds – and worked together over one year to co-produce commissioning guidance. Guidance is intended for use by clinical commissioning groups to support them in commissioning health diabetes services. Our goal was to work with young people to help us understand the options and barriers they face when given a diagnosis of diabetes, and using NHS services. While our NHS partners can provide the latest medical and academic input into managing diabetes, young people have first-hand experience of managing diabetes, the highs and the lows, and only they can provide the inspiration for what would make the service better, now and in the future. With this focus in mind, young people joined the research team to help shape and implement new commissioning guidance. This paper offers the opportunity to reflect on the strengths and weaknesses in involving young people in health service design.

Corrigendum to: Young Deadly Free: impact evaluation of a sexual health youth peer education program in remote Australian communities

Sexual Health ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (6) ◽  
pp. 547
Author(s):  
Roanna Lobo ◽  
Belinda D'Costa ◽  
Linda Forbes ◽  
James Ward
Keyword(s):  
Young People ◽  
Sexual Health ◽  
Education Program ◽  
Aboriginal People ◽  
Peer Education ◽  
Community Health Services ◽  
Remote Communities ◽  
Sti Testing ◽  
Sexually Transmissible Infections ◽  
Peer Education Program

Background:Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in remote and very remote communities in Australia experience high rates of sexually transmissible infections (STIs), 4- to 29-fold the rates reported for non-Aboriginal people living in remote areas. Young people aged 16–29 years are particularly vulnerable to STIs. The Young Deadly Free (YDF) sexual health youth peer education program was implemented in 15 remote or very remote communities in four Australian jurisdictions in an effort to address endemic STI rates in these communities. The present study sought to evaluate the effect of YDF for Aboriginal young people. Methods: Young people (n = 128) participated in youth peer educator training to deliver peer education sessions on sexual health topics to other young people in their communities. Pre and post surveys were used to examine changes in STI knowledge, attitudes and behavioural intentions of the young people attending the peer education sessions. GHRANITE software extracted deidentified STI testing data for young people attending 13 community health services. Results: Young people (n = 426) attended peer education sessions delivered by trained youth peer educators. Pre and post surveys were completed by 174 and 172 young people respectively (median age 20 years). Gains were reported in STI knowledge, intentions to test (χ2 = 10.58, d.f. = 4, n = 142, P Conclusions: Peer education can enhance the sexual health literacy of young Aboriginal people residing in remote communities. The extent to which knowledge gains result in behaviours that prevent STI transmission requires further evaluation. Normalising STI testing among Aboriginal young people would help reduce feelings of shame.

Young Deadly Free: impact evaluation of a sexual health youth peer education program in remote Australian communities

Sexual Health ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (5) ◽  
pp. 397
Author(s):  
Roanna Lobo ◽  
Belinda D'Costa ◽  
Linda Forbes ◽  
James Ward
Keyword(s):  
Young People ◽  
Sexual Health ◽  
Education Program ◽  
Aboriginal People ◽  
Peer Education ◽  
Community Health Services ◽  
Remote Communities ◽  
Sti Testing ◽  
Sexually Transmissible Infections ◽  
Peer Education Program

Background Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in remote and very remote communities in Australia experience high rates of sexually transmissible infections (STIs), 4- to 29-fold the rates reported for non-Aboriginal people living in remote areas. Young people aged 16–29 years are particularly vulnerable to STIs. The Young Deadly Free (YDF) sexual health youth peer education program was implemented in 15 remote or very remote communities in four Australian jurisdictions in an effort to address endemic STI rates in these communities. The present study sought to evaluate the effect of YDF for Aboriginal young people. Methods: Young people (n = 128) participated in youth peer educator training to deliver peer education sessions on sexual health topics to other young people in their communities. Pre and post surveys were used to examine changes in STI knowledge, attitudes and behavioural intentions of the young people attending the peer education sessions. GHRANITE software extracted deidentified STI testing data for young people attending 13 community health services. Results: Young people (n = 426) attended peer education sessions delivered by trained youth peer educators. Pre and post surveys were completed by 174 and 172 young people respectively (median age 20 years). Gains were reported in STI knowledge, intentions to test (χ2 = 10.58, d.f. = 4, n = 142, P < 0.001) and number of STI tests (50.8% increase from baseline). Feelings of shame associated with STI testing remained high (39.5% post survey). Conclusions: Peer education can enhance the sexual health literacy of young Aboriginal people residing in remote communities. The extent to which knowledge gains result in behaviours that prevent STI transmission requires further evaluation. Normalising STI testing among Aboriginal young people would help reduce feelings of shame.

Engaging Youth in Sexual Health Research: Refining a “Youth Friendly” Method in the Northern Territory, Australia

2013 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
pp. 123-132 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard Chenhall ◽  
Belinda Davison ◽  
Joseph Fitz ◽  
Tiffanie Pearse ◽  
Kate Senior
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Health ◽  
Health Research ◽  
Northern Territory ◽  
Youth Friendly

scholarly journals Enabling culturally safe sexual health services in western Sydney: a protocol to improve STI treatment outcomes for Aboriginal young people

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ashley Ubrihien ◽  
Kylie Gwynne ◽  
David A. Lewis
Keyword(s):  
Young People ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Sexual Health ◽  
Research Ethics ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Aboriginal People ◽  
Ethics Committee ◽  
Human Research ◽  
Human Research Ethics ◽  
Aboriginal Elders

Abstract Background Aboriginal people face challenges on several fronts when it comes to the health and wellbeing of their community, compared to the rest of the Australian population. This is no different in urban areas such as Australia’s largest urban Aboriginal community located in Blacktown, NSW, where sexually transmitted infections (STIs) remain an issue of concern. Across Australia, rates of infectious syphilis, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and hepatitis C infection have increased by 400, 260, and 15% respectively while gonorrhoea decreased 12% in the 5-year period from 2013 to 2017. This study explores how to address the barriers that prevent young Aboriginal people under 30 years of age from accessing STI treatment through Government Sexual Health Services. Methods This qualitative study will use purposeful sampling to recruit 20 male and 20 female health consumers, 10 Aboriginal elders and 10 sexual health clinicians. This recruitment will be undertaken with the assistance of the local Government Health Services and local Aboriginal organisations. One-on-one semi-structured interviews will be undertaken by someone of the same gender in order to address cultural preferences. Data will be entered into NVivo and thematically analysed. Discussion This study will seek to add to the literature that explores why young Aboriginal people do not access sexual health services. This study seeks to understand the experience of clinicians, Aboriginal elders and Aboriginal young people to provide practical policy and clinical redesign evidence that can be used to improve the experience and cultural safety of sexual health services in urban areas of Australia. The results of the qualitative research will be disseminated with the assistance of participating local Aboriginal organisations, and the findings will be published through peer-reviewed scientific journals and conference presentations. Trial registration The study is approved by the Western Sydney Local Health District Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC/16/WMEAD/449) and the New South Wales Aboriginal Health and Medical Research Council’s Human Research Ethics Committee (1220/16).

Changing patterns of migration to Australia's Northern Territory: Evidence of new forms of escalator migration to frontier regions?

2013 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 101-114 ◽  
Author(s):  
Catherine Martel ◽  
Andrew Taylor ◽  
Dean Carson
Keyword(s):  
Young People ◽  
Life Events ◽  
Career Advancement ◽  
Work And Family ◽  
Northern Territory ◽  
Population Ageing ◽  
Men And Women ◽  
Working Lives ◽  
Changing Patterns ◽  
New Perspective

Building on Fielding’s idea of escalator regions as places where young people migrate (often temporarily) to get rapid career advancement, this paper proposes a new perspective on 'escalator migration' as it applies to frontier or remote regions in particular. Life events, their timing and iterations have changed in the thirty years since Fielding first coined the term ‘escalator region’, with delayed adulthood, multiple career working lives, population ageing and different dynamics between men and women in the work and family sphere. The object of this paper is to examine recent migration trends to Australia's Northern Territory for evidence of new or emerging 'escalator migrants'.

Talking to migrant and refugee young people about sexual health in general practice

2018 ◽  
Vol 47 (8) ◽  
pp. 564-569 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jessica R Botfield ◽  
Christy E Newman ◽  
Melissa Kang ◽  
Anthony B Zwi
Keyword(s):  
General Practice ◽  
Young People ◽  
Sexual Health
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