Young women speak: Why we seek health care and what we need from our providers. more

Despite widespread condom distribution and health education, sexually transmitted infections (STI s) in young adult women are on the increase. In an attempt to address these increasing rates of STIs, improve patient-provider interactions, increase access to
sexual and reproductive health information and quality health services for young adult women, investigators from nursing and psychology collaborated on a joint research project. The purpose of this study was to describe sexual risk taking, access to sexual and reproductive health information and quality health services, and interactions with health care providers in a culturally diverse group of young adult women. This study also examined the impact of socio-cultural beliefs and values that surround sexual risk taking through the use of sexual scripting and the influence of these results on subsequent health seeking behavior. The result of this work provides valuable information for health care providers, as it allows them to understand how racial/ethnic minority women view themselves as sexual beings, and how the sexual behaviors they exhibit are manifestations of culturally unique values and beliefs
about female sexuality.