Research themes and projects at the Centre for Womens Health, Gender and Society
Project title
Making it real: Relevant sexual health communication for young people
Major research theme
Other themes
Investigators
Prof Doreen Rosenthal, CWHGS, School of Population Health
Dr Shelley Mallett, Director of Research, Melbourne Citymission
Dr Henrietta Williams, Senior Lecturer, Melbourne Sexual Health Centre
Dr Deborah Keys, CWHGS, School of Population Health
Ms Lynne Jordan, CEO, Family Planning Victoria
Ms Dot Henning, Centre for Adolescent Health, The University of Melbourne
Research Partners
Youth Substance Abuse Centre
Onemda Indigenous Health Unit, The University of Melbourne
Western Region Health Centre
Family Access Network
Adolescent Forensic Health Service, Royal Children’s Hospital
Funding
Department of Human Services, Victorian Government Public Health Research Project 2006- 2007 $98,536
Summary
The project will identify best practice in sexual health communication strategies by conducting focus groups targeting sub-populations of young people. This will allow an examination of the effects of gender, sexuality, place, ethnicity and social disadvantage on how young people respond to sexual health information. Understanding how young people evaluate health messages and discriminate between sources, along with identification of participants’ recommendations for improved strategies, will provide an evidence base for future sexual health communication strategies.