Abstracts
Coming of Age; How Young Women in the Northwest Territories Understand Barriers and Facilitators to Positive, Empowered, and Safer Sexual Health
Candice L. Lys1
1Institute for Circumpolar Health Research, P.O Box 11050, Yellowknife, NT, X1A 3J2, Canada, Phone 867-873-9337, Fax 867-873-9338, candice.lys@ichr.ca
Compared to other young Canadians, youth in the Northwest Territories (NWT) suffer disproportionately from negative sexual health outcomes, including high rates of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) and unintended pregnancies. Although numerous quantitative studies measure sexual health indicators amongst NWT youth, little qualitative research explores the sexual health experiences of these young women. The purpose of this study was to identify the self-perceived barriers and facilitators to positive, empowered, and safer sexual health that impact female youth in the NWT. Recruited through purposive sampling, 12 females aged 15-19 who live in the NWT and engage in relationships with male partners participated in semi-structured, face-to-face interviews. Using qualitative data analysis software, inductive coding and thematic analysis of transcribed data occurred. Results of this research improve understanding of the sexual health experiences of young women in the NWT, thus aiding in the development of appropriate and effective health promotion policy and initiatives for this population.
Abstract Categories: 4.4 The Interface of Science and Policy
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