IMPROVING SEXUAL HEALTH RESOURCES FOR YOUTH: THE USE OF SEX-POSITIVE PUBLIC HEALTH WEBSITES

Abstract

Technologies that bring more information to our fingertips can often mislead and misinform youth about the risks of practising unsafe sex. On the other hand, valid and trustworthy information can promote health and reduce harmful practices by shaping and encouraging safe sex practices. Our qualitative study conducted with 32 youth explored their desire to access sexual health information and services, their perceptions of current sexual health services, and their sources of information. The results of the study indicate that youth are concerned about the accessibility, anonymity, confidentiality, and comfort of sexual health services; and that they identified the Internet as a key source of information, and as the preferred medium for sexual health information. Yet they expressed concern about the quality of information retrieved on the Internet. This indicates that trustworthy sources of youth-friendly health materials on the Internet need to be provided to support youth in making low-risk sexual decisions. Lindsay Chartier is a youth worker with the AIDS Committee of Durham Region,