Youth and relationship networks (YARNS): mobilising communities for sexual health

Whiteside, Mary, Tsey, Komla, Crouch, Alan, and Fagan, Patricia (2012) Youth and relationship networks (YARNS): mobilising communities for sexual health. Health Promotion Journal of Australia, 23 (3). pp. 226-230.

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Abstract

Issue addressed: Community participation is vital if sexual health disadvantage among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people is to be addressed, yet there is a paucity of literature examining this issue.

Methods: The development, nature and impact of a community participation strategy for sexual health, implemented in two North Queensland sites, provided the opportunity for a systematic study, using qualitative and grounded theory analytic methods, of the factors that enable and constrain community participation in this context. A total of 30 people participated, in individual interviews and focus groups.

Results: The community participation strategy was fundamental to the development of culturally and community congruent sexual health initiatives. There were also signs of a changing discourse in community around sexual health. Factors that enabled effective community participation involved individual attributes, structured group processes, organisational support, empowering external relationships, a culturally sensitive strategy and enhanced health and wellbeing.

Conclusion: The model developed here identifies factors that enable community participation and mobilisation, thus providing a valuable tool for health practitioners seeking to plan and evaluate strategies that address entrenched disadvantage in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander populations.

Item ID: 24601
Item Type: Article (Research - C1)
ISSN: 1036-1073
Keywords: community participation, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health, sexual health, health
Date Deposited: 20 Jan 2013 22:41
FoR Codes: 13 EDUCATION > 1303 Specialist Studies in Education > 130399 Specialist Studies in Education not elsewhere classified @ 100%
SEO Codes: 92 HEALTH > 9203 Indigenous Health > 920301 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health - Determinants of Health @ 100%
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