Stakeholder Identification of Barriers and Facilitators to Sexual Health Education for Female Survivors of Violence: A Mixed Methods Study

ABSTRACT

There is a strong relationship between experiencing violence and participating in behaviors that increase the risk of contracting sexually transmitted infections. Sexual health education (SHE) tailored to the unique needs of female survivors of violence is needed. This paper presents findings from 40 surveys and 33 accompanying interviews with stakeholders representing 31 agencies in the violence advocacy community in Arkansas to investigate the feasibility, acceptability, and perceived need of a SHE program for female survivors of violence. Data also explore the role and preferences of community agencies in the design and implementation of such a program. Interviews with stakeholders revealed three themes: intervention concerns, content, and structure.

KEYWORDS:

• Health behavior and attitudes
• women's health
• sexual aggression
• violence
• women's sexuality

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the study participants, the Serving Survivors Community Advisory Board, and study staff. In particular, we acknowledge Emily Whittington, Katharine E. Stewart, Sally Hodder, Jean McSweeney, Mary Kate Stewart, Carla Sparks, Pastor Michael Clowers, and all of the church leadership, Nakita Lovelady, Mary “Katy” Allison, Mihomy Shade, Erica Davis, and Treopia and Hubert Bryant.

Additional information

Funding

The project described was supported by the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Translational Research Institute (TRI), grants UL1TR000039 and KL2TR000063 through the NIH National Center for Research Resources and the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences. Additional funding was received through the HPTN Scholars Program funded by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, grant UM1AI068619, Arkansas Center for Health Disparities funded by the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities, grant U54MD002329, and the HIV/AIDS, Substance Abuse, and Trauma Training Program (HA-STTP) at the University of California, Los Angeles funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, grant R25 DA035692. The content described is the sole responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the NIH.