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ENHANCING SEXUAL WELLBEING IN SCOTLAND - A SEXUAL HEALTH AND RELATIONSHIPS STRATEGY: Analysis of Written Responses to the Public Consultation
CHAPTER 8: LIFELONG LEARNING FOR ADULTS
NHS Boards, in conjunction with Community Health Partnerships, should work with further and higher education, community education and youth work services and the wider voluntary sector to develop effective sexual health promotion activities for adults |
8.1 The recommendations relating to lifelong learning for adults were not particularly contentious and only received specific comment from under a tenth of respondents, most of whom were health or education professionals. Most were supportive of the recommendations but a few issues were raised as follows:
It was felt that not enough reference has been made to the voluntary sector, either in relation to accessing or delivering lifelong learning. (Equalities)
There was particular support for life-long learning aimed at parents to teach parenting skills and how to talk to their children about sexual health and relationships. (Equalities and Social Health)
It was also pointed out that plans to help teenage mothers continue with their education should be further developed. (Social Health)
Workplace health promotion (including SHAW) should include actions to support positive sexual health and affirmative action to address issues in relation to sexual orientation and HIV status |
8.2 There were mixed views of the proposed use of Scotland's Health at Work scheme (SHAW) as means of providing information about sexual health. Some were critical of work-place based programmes as they felt this approach was unrealistic given the employer/employee relationship. Other respondents were in support of using SHAW, particularly in relation to addressing sexual discrimination, although some issues and concerns were raised as follows:
"[Organisation] support attention to issues of sexual health and stigma/discrimination in the workplace. This will contribute to broader social and cultural awareness of the issues and have an effect on the environment in which children and young people grow up and learn about healthy sex and relationships." (Education and Young People)
"Sexuality has only been protected through employment legislation since December 2003 and there will be much work that needs to be done to address the discrimination that still exists. Any support that the strategy can give to address this would be very helpful." (Equalities)
"Mention should be made of the need to incorporate the use of advocacy services in some instances to ensure individuals' needs and personal requests are acknowledged." (Equalities)
The National Sexual Health Advisory Committee should commission further research on targeted learning interventions aimed at behaviour change in adults: as a first step, this should focus on the target groups specified in this strategy Work to define and address the needs of older people should be undertaken by NHS Health Scotland in conjunction with other stakeholders and link with older peoples strategies developed by NHS Boards |
8.3 Several responses noted that not enough emphasis had been placed on the needs of older people. It was felt that the document currently focuses on young people at the expense of older people.
"[We] suggest older people's needs require more explicit emphasis." (Medical Health)
The Sexual Health and Wellbeing Learning Network, in conjunction with relevant stakeholders, should facilitate awareness of the sexual health needs of people with learning disabilities |
8.4 A couple of Social Health representatives and some Equalities Groups thought that more emphasis and detail should be given to helping adults with learning difficulties access sex education. For example, specific targeted materials should be developed focusing on both enablement and protection.
"While welcoming the facilitation of awareness of the sexual health needs of people with learning disabilities, the group considered this was insufficient. There is a need for specific research based programmes." (Equalities)
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