Ask me, listen to me, treat me well and I shall tell: a qualitative study of Swedish youths’ experiences of systematic assessment of sexual health and risk-taking (SEXIT)
AbstractSexual ill health among young people, in terms of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), unintended pregnancy, transactional sex and sexual violence, is a global public health concern. To that end, the SEXual health Identification Tool (SEXIT) was developed. The purpose of this study was to...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Taylor & Francis Group
2022-12-01
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| Series: | Sexual and Reproductive Health Matters |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/26410397.2022.2146032 |
| _version_ | 1828118571350228992 |
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| author | Sofia Hammarström Susanne Bernhardsson Per Nilsen Jennie Elisson Ellinor Frostholm Malin Lindroth |
| author_facet | Sofia Hammarström Susanne Bernhardsson Per Nilsen Jennie Elisson Ellinor Frostholm Malin Lindroth |
| author_sort | Sofia Hammarström |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | AbstractSexual ill health among young people, in terms of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), unintended pregnancy, transactional sex and sexual violence, is a global public health concern. To that end, the SEXual health Identification Tool (SEXIT) was developed. The purpose of this study was to explore the visitors’ experiences of a youth clinic visit when SEXIT was used. A purposively selected sample of 20 participants (16–24 years of age) was recruited from three Swedish youth clinics using SEXIT. Participants were interviewed individually in March and April 2016, and data were analysed using inductive qualitative content analysis. The analysis resulted in four main categories describing the participants’ experiences of using SEXIT: “Issues of concern” includes descriptions of the items in SEXIT as important; “Enabling disclosure” describes how SEXIT serves as an invitation to talk and facilitates disclosure of negative experiences; “Road to change” captures experiences of the conversation with the healthcare professional; and “Managing power imbalance” describes experiences regarding the response and attitudes of the healthcare professional as well as the participants’ fears of being judged. The categories are connected by the overarching theme “Ask me, listen to me, treat me well and I shall tell”. This study contributes knowledge on young people’s experiences of a tool-supported dialogue on sexual health and risk-taking initiated by the healthcare professional. Structured questions in a written format, as a basis for dialogue, are appreciated and experienced as a functioning way of addressing sexual ill health and risk-taking at Swedish youth clinics. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T13:34:26Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-879e285364a14019825d50ca8615e9fd |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2641-0397 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T13:34:26Z |
| publishDate | 2022-12-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Sexual and Reproductive Health Matters |
| spelling | doaj.art-879e285364a14019825d50ca8615e9fd2022-12-22T04:21:39ZengTaylor & Francis GroupSexual and Reproductive Health Matters2641-03972022-12-0130110.1080/26410397.2022.2146032Ask me, listen to me, treat me well and I shall tell: a qualitative study of Swedish youths’ experiences of systematic assessment of sexual health and risk-taking (SEXIT)Sofia Hammarström0Susanne Bernhardsson1Per Nilsen2Jennie Elisson3Ellinor Frostholm4Malin Lindroth5Academic Researcher, Department of Health, Medicine and Caring Sciences, Division of Society and Health, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden; Development Manager, Region Västra Götaland, Knowledge Centre for Sexual Health, Gothenburg, Sweden; Faculty of Health and Society, Centre for Sexology and Sexuality Studies, Malmö University, Malmö, Sweden. Correspondence:Associate Professor, Region Västra Götaland, Research and Development Primary Health Care, Gothenburg, Sweden; Department of Health and Rehabilitation, Unit of Physiotherapy, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, SwedenProfessor, Department of Health, Department of Health, Medicine and Caring Sciences, Division of Society and Health, Linköping University, Linköping, SwedenRegistered Midwife, Region Västra Götaland, Mölnlycke Youth Clinic, Mölnlycke, SwedenRegistered Midwife, Region Västra Götaland, Youth Clinics Central Administration, Gothenburg, SwedenAssociate Professor, Faculty of Health and Society, Centre for Sexology and Sexuality Studies, Malmö University, Malmö, SwedenAbstractSexual ill health among young people, in terms of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), unintended pregnancy, transactional sex and sexual violence, is a global public health concern. To that end, the SEXual health Identification Tool (SEXIT) was developed. The purpose of this study was to explore the visitors’ experiences of a youth clinic visit when SEXIT was used. A purposively selected sample of 20 participants (16–24 years of age) was recruited from three Swedish youth clinics using SEXIT. Participants were interviewed individually in March and April 2016, and data were analysed using inductive qualitative content analysis. The analysis resulted in four main categories describing the participants’ experiences of using SEXIT: “Issues of concern” includes descriptions of the items in SEXIT as important; “Enabling disclosure” describes how SEXIT serves as an invitation to talk and facilitates disclosure of negative experiences; “Road to change” captures experiences of the conversation with the healthcare professional; and “Managing power imbalance” describes experiences regarding the response and attitudes of the healthcare professional as well as the participants’ fears of being judged. The categories are connected by the overarching theme “Ask me, listen to me, treat me well and I shall tell”. This study contributes knowledge on young people’s experiences of a tool-supported dialogue on sexual health and risk-taking initiated by the healthcare professional. Structured questions in a written format, as a basis for dialogue, are appreciated and experienced as a functioning way of addressing sexual ill health and risk-taking at Swedish youth clinics.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/26410397.2022.2146032adolescentsrisk assessmentsexual behavioursexually transmitted infectionssexual violencequalitative research |
| spellingShingle | Sofia Hammarström Susanne Bernhardsson Per Nilsen Jennie Elisson Ellinor Frostholm Malin Lindroth Ask me, listen to me, treat me well and I shall tell: a qualitative study of Swedish youths’ experiences of systematic assessment of sexual health and risk-taking (SEXIT) Sexual and Reproductive Health Matters adolescents risk assessment sexual behaviour sexually transmitted infections sexual violence qualitative research |
| title | Ask me, listen to me, treat me well and I shall tell: a qualitative study of Swedish youths’ experiences of systematic assessment of sexual health and risk-taking (SEXIT) |
| title_full | Ask me, listen to me, treat me well and I shall tell: a qualitative study of Swedish youths’ experiences of systematic assessment of sexual health and risk-taking (SEXIT) |
| title_fullStr | Ask me, listen to me, treat me well and I shall tell: a qualitative study of Swedish youths’ experiences of systematic assessment of sexual health and risk-taking (SEXIT) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Ask me, listen to me, treat me well and I shall tell: a qualitative study of Swedish youths’ experiences of systematic assessment of sexual health and risk-taking (SEXIT) |
| title_short | Ask me, listen to me, treat me well and I shall tell: a qualitative study of Swedish youths’ experiences of systematic assessment of sexual health and risk-taking (SEXIT) |
| title_sort | ask me listen to me treat me well and i shall tell a qualitative study of swedish youths experiences of systematic assessment of sexual health and risk taking sexit |
| topic | adolescents risk assessment sexual behaviour sexually transmitted infections sexual violence qualitative research |
| url | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/26410397.2022.2146032 |
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