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Published Version (Advanced Access)CC BY-NC-ND V4.0, Open Access
Journal article
University students' access and use of sexual and reproductive health services in Australia
Culture, Health and Sexuality, Vol.27(10), pp.1261-1277
2025
PMID: 39377306
Abstract
University attendance can lead to changes in sexual behaviour that place people at increased risk of negative sexual and reproductive health (SRH) experiences; however, relatively few studies have explored access to and use of SRH services by university students in Australia. A convenience sample of students (N = 4291) from five universities completed an online survey to examine barriers and facilitators to accessing SRH services. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse variations by gender, sexuality, and enrolment status. Content analyses were conducted on responses to two open-ended questions. Over half (59%, 2934) had never spoken to a health professional about SRH issues. Of the 41% (1357) who had, female, non-binary/gender diverse, and Australian-born students were significantly more likely to have done so than students identifying as male, heterosexual, or as an international student. Frequently reported barriers to use of SRH services were 'feeling embarrassed', 'being judged' and 'not knowing where to go'. LGBTQIA+ students along with international and overseas-born domestic students faced specific access barriers. Recommendations targeting student-identified barriers to access are offered, calling for universities to support student wellbeing by providing supportive, non-judgemental, and inclusive SRH promotion and health services that cater to needs of diverse student cohorts.
Details
- Title
- University students' access and use of sexual and reproductive health services in Australia
- Authors
- Arabella Mundie (Corresponding Author) - The University of QueenslandAmy B. Mullens - University of Southern QueenslandErich C. Fein - University of Southern QueenslandSara F. E. Bell - The University of QueenslandJoseph Debattista - Metro South HealthArmin Ariana - Griffith UniversityKirstie Daken - University of Southern QueenslandKathryn Wenham - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of Health - Public HealthCharles F. Gilks - The University of QueenslandPamela Doherty - The University of QueenslandJo Durham - Queensland University of TechnologyZhihong Gu - Ethnic Communities Council of Queensland (Brisbane, Australia)Judith A. Dean - The University of Queensland
- Publication details
- Culture, Health and Sexuality, Vol.27(10), pp.1261-1277
- Publisher
- Routledge
- Date published
- 2025
- DOI
- 10.1080/13691058.2024.2410834
- ISSN
- 1464-5351; 1369-1058
- PMID
- 39377306
- Copyright note
- © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/), which permits non-commercial re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited, and is not altered, transformed, or built upon in any way. The terms on which this article has been published allow the posting of the Accepted Manuscript in a repository by the author(s) or with their consent.
- Grant note
- Funds for this project came from a combination of sources including: Queensland BBV/ STI Professoriate Chair Discretionary Seed Research Grant; QUT School of Public Health and Social Work Kick Start Grant and the Griffith University Dean of Medicine Griffith Seed Project Funds.
- Organisation Unit
- School of Health - Public Health
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 991068897902621
- Output Type
- Journal article
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