ASSESSING SEXUAL HEALTH INFORMATION & RESOURCES PROVISION IN INDIANA YOUTH-SERVING COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS UTILIZING COMMUNITY-BASED PARTICIPATORY RESEARCH METHODS
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Date
2010-06-16
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[Bloomington, Ind.] : Indiana University
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Abstract
Research into the provision of sexual health information for Indiana youth has demonstrated inadequate school support and little to no information exchange between Indiana parents and their children. Community leaders in Indiana have suggested that community-based organizations (CBOs) may play a role in providing sexual health information to young people. However, little is known about the nature of sexual health information resources among youth-serving Indiana community-based organizations.
The purpose of this study was to assess the provision of sexual health information by Indiana youth-serving community-based organizations. Specifically, the study looked to assess 1) the comfort, confidence, skills, and knowledge (CCSK) of youth development professionals (YDPs) in addressing questions from youth about sexuality, and 2) the potential for CBOs to provide sexuality-related programming, referrals, and resources to adolescents in Indiana.
Utilizing community-based participatory research (CBPR) methods, a community advisory board developed and implemented a 20-minute Internet survey. The survey measured constructs determined by the community advisory board to be relevant to the foci above.
Results of the study found a high level of CCSK among YDPs as well as a high level of desire for additional training. Less than half of participants indicated their organizations offered programming and resources on various sexuality-related topics. About half of participants indicated their organization had referral protocols in place for a variety of sexual health issues. Availability of programming, resources, and referrals varied by topic.
The capacity of YDPs to deliver sexual health information was high while existing organizational capacity was only moderate. Policy-makers and organizational leadership should consider supporting the training needs of YDPs and strengthening formal mechanisms for the delivery of sexual health information to adolescents. Future research should expand the geographical scope of the current study and look to validate in other populations the measurement of CCSK.
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Thesis (Ph.D.) - Indiana University, School of Health, Physical Education and Recreation, 2009
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adolescents, community-based organizations, community-based participatory research, sex education, sexuality, youth
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Doctoral Dissertation