Inequalities in access to sexual health services among young people
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Community pharmacy and Public health: Reducing inequalities in health and access to sexual health services among young people (16-24)
IRAS ID
216756
Contact name
Blessing Chirewa
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Chester
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 3 months, 8 days
Research summary
Young people (aged 16-24) are often viewed as population with low healthy needs because, the majority of them are strong, resilient and healthy. Nevertheless, health issues such as drug alcohol use, mental health issues, unintended pregnancies, sexual health problems and obesity in young people are a major public health concern. A key public health concern is the young age at which individuals commence risk taking behaviours because their current behaviours influence health and determinants of health later in life. It is therefore important that young people establish appropriate health seeking behaviours and lifestyles during their adolescence as it is associated with improved health outcomes.
Access to healthcare services, professional guidance and support may assist young people to negotiate this developmental period of their lives. Access to healthcare services is a well-established social determinant of health for instance, disadvantaged areas in United Kingdom are often lacking access to NHS services. Community pharmacies, because of their widely distribution across UK, it allows ease of access without appointment to see the pharmacist, long opening hours, no consultation fees and advice is readily available for treatment of minor ailments thus enhancing the potential for community pharmacies to improve health care access for many young people. Therefore, the unique accessibility and distribution of community pharmacies at the heart of communities presents an opportunity for community pharmacists to reduce health inequalities and inequities to access to health services particularly among young people who might find it difficult to access other healthcare services.
This study aims to explore how a community pharmacy-based sexual health service that targets young people (16-24) impacts on their access to sexual health services. A qualitative research will be undertaken to investigate young people’s experiences of using the community-pharmacy based sexual health services and determine as well factors that many influence or dissuade them from using community pharmacy-based sexual health services. In-depth one-to-one interviews will be carried out with the young people who access the services to generate data for the study.REC name
East of England - Cambridge South Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
16/EE/0505
Date of REC Opinion
7 Dec 2016
REC opinion
Unfavourable Opinion