BACKGROUND
In Australia, young Indigenous people’s sexual health is challenged on a number of fronts. High rates of Sexual Transmissible Infections (STIs) are a major contributor towards infertility, long-term disability, and adverse pregnancy outcomes including ectopic pregnancy, miscarriage, stillbirth, preterm birth, low birth weight for infants, congenital infection and death. Inflammatory and ulcerative STIs also increase the risk of transmission of HIV approximately 3 – 5 times. Indigenous sexual health has been a priority with many interventions addressing this issue. Despite this focus, Indigenous youth continue to bear a significant burden of sexual ill health. International studies demonstrate that young people’s sexual health is affected by their cultural and social circumstances and that, interventions must take these into account for best outcomes.

AIMS
This study aims to contribute important new knowledge about the sexual health of Indigenous youth people, particularly links between sexual decision-making, risk behaviour and high rates of STIs. The study has three interrelated aims, each of which builds upon the other:

•to investigate sexual behaviour and sexual decision making in the context of the everyday
life experience and aspirations of Indigenous young people under 25 in the NT, WA and SA;

•understand young people’s decisions about their sexual health and required health
services; and

•to increase the capacity of service providers to deliver effective services for young people.

RESEARCH PLAN
This project involves young people, aged 16-25 years, from the Northern Territory, South Australia and Western Australia. Within the Northern Territory young people from Alice Springs, Darwin and Borroloola will be invited participate. The main focus of the project is to examine the role relationships play in a young person’s health and wellbeing, including their sexual health. We can achieve this through various youth friendly activities including;

•Body Mapping- This is where participants are encouraged to illustrate the body parts and disease processes that they have knowledge on, on a life size body outline, using art-based materials such as paints or colored markers

•Risk mapping- Participants are encouraged through drawing to depict their environment with special emphasis on areas of safety and risk, and initiate discussions as to why they feel safe or unsafe in certain areas

•Scenarios- Either in small groups or one on one, participants are give a scenario of a young person’s relationship and asked to pass comment on what they think these people might
be feeling or why they are acting or behaving a certain way. These activities have been extensively and successfully developed, trialed and implemented
throughout schools, youth networks and youth groups in both urban and remote communities within Western Australia and the Northern Territory. They have provided researchers with
insightful and extensive information, which will lead the future direction taken in addressing the issues and concerns pertinent to our young peoples’ overall health and well-being.

OUTCOMES AND SIGNIFICANCE
The project will provide in depth knowledge and understanding of how sexuality and relationships are understood and negotiated by young people in the context of their social and cultural worlds. This understanding will allow identification of youth risk behaviours and the major influences on their lives. This knowledge will be translated into education and health promotion programs and resources which are effective and sustainable. These programs will target young people, their families, service providers and the broader community. The findings will be transferable to policy making, service development and implementation.

Partners of Menzies School of Health Research on this project:

NTG Health Services Division
Communicable Disease Control (CDC) NT – Sexual Health Unit,
WA Department of Health CDC,
CDC Branch, SA Health
Mission Australia,
Danila Dilba Health Service,
Central Australian Aboriginal Congress (CAAC),
NTG Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC),
NTG Health Promotion, Remote Health, NT Police,
NTG Alcohol & Other Drugs (AOD), Youth Diversion Scheme,
NTG Office Youth Affairs, Department of Justice (DOJ),
NTG Sports Development Unit, Women’s Health Strategy Unit,
NTG Health Services Policy Unit, Anglicare, AMSANT