Needs assessment for sexual health services development.

Abstract

Rates of sexually transmitted infections have been reported to be on the increase in Malta and worldwide, affecting mostly young people (Health Protection Agency London, 2006; European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, 2011). In addition high rates of teenage pregnancies are also reported (National Statistics Office, Malta, 2010). These trends demand stakeholders to further investigate and evaluate the need for further support services which help in achieving sexual health. However, if one fails to take into consideration the needs and demands of all the stakeholders involved in delivering and receiving sexual health services, one will be missing the opportunity to provide services which suite these needs (Sheaff, 2002). The purpose of this study was to compare sexual health services needs of Maltese young people with what experts in the sexual health field propose as part of a needs analysis for the development of sexual health services in Malta. In order to reach the aim of the study an epidemiological review of the literature reporting matters related to sexual health was carried out. Young people's knowledge, attitudes and demands related to sexual health in Malta were then explored together with the perceptions of experts in the sexual field. The results for Malta were then compared to published data from other countries. A mixed method approach of data collection was chosen to explore the various dimensions of needs related to sexual health. Quantitative data were

collected by self-administering questionnaires to 300 students in a state postsecondary school in Malta. On the other hand, one-to-one in-depth interviews with two experts in the sexual health field were carried out in parallel. The results of these interviews generated qualitative data. Results revealed that young people's knowledge of sexually transmitted infections and sexual health services was limited, particularly in males. Results also threw light on young people's sexual activity, these showing that they were sexually active at a young age. No major differences emerged between the experts' perspectives and young people's needs. Two important needs that resulted from this study were the need for an adequate sexual health information dissemination system, incorporating schools and the need of educating professionals who deal with young people. The need and importance of involving parents in sexual health education was also recognised. Indications were also given about the need of designing new quality sexual health services which are accessible to all, are provided in reachable areas and have adequate opening hours. These services must be free of charge and cater for all young people while providing confidentiality. Influenced by the needs that emerged from the study, several management implications and a number of recommendations were identified. Effective sexual health promotion was regarded as an asset in delivering accurate and timely information to young people thus, it is imperative that the present health promotion and education strategies are revised. The current sexual health services offered must

be evaluated together with the possibility of developing new services. Finally the results obtained reflect that sexual health is an essential part in leading a healthy lifestyle. This makes it crucial to have the appropriate sexual health services in place.