Individual Paper(s)
An exploration of sexual health competencies in young people in Northern Ireland
L. Dunne
Institute of Child Care Research, Queen’s University, Belfast
K. Higgins
Institute of Child Care Research, Queen’s University, Belfast
M. McCann
Institute of Child Care Research, Queen’s University, Belfast
G. Macdonald
Institute of Child Care Research, Queen’s University, Belfast
J. Wilson
Institute of Child Care Research, Queen’s University, Belfast
Background: Pregnancy, STIs, and unsatisfactory or coerced sexual relationships
remain enduring problems for young people worldwide.
Aims: To explore sexual health competencies in young people attending sexual
health clinics in NI.
Method: People aged under 25 attending sexual health clinics were surveyed
between September 2009 and March 2010.
Results: A total of 381 people completed the survey. Latent profile analysis
assessed how factors such as subjective and objective measures of sexual health
competence and decision making skills co-vary, and then investigated what
social and personal characteristics are associated with typologies of
competence.
Conclusions: A sizeable proportion of young people may be overconfident about their
levels of sexual health knowledge and competence. This may place them at
greater likelihood of unknowingly engaging in risky sexual behaviour.
