Full Citation
Title: EQUAL ACCESS, KNOWLEDGE AND EMPOWERMENT: PROMOTING INCLUSION IN SEX EDUCATION AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH PROGRAMS FOR HUMBOLDT COUNTY’S SPANISH SPEAKING POPULATION
Citation Type: Dissertation/Thesis
Publication Year: 2017
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Abstract: Improving access to sexual and reproductive health care for Spanish speakers in Humboldt County is dependent on the implementation of education, outreach and culturally specific information in Spanish. The economic, geopolitical and social dimensions of immigration to a rural county impacts access to health care, and in the current political climate, may further effect access to sexual and reproductive health care for women and youth. This ethnography examines both the experiences of women born in Latin American countries and Spanish speaking youth in Humboldt County, and their experiences with sexual/reproductive health services and sex education. Methods include participant observation in healthcare, educational and community settings, qualitative interviews, and a survey administered with middle school youth. The narratives and observations have been collected in order to better understand the existing structural barriers and how they affect these individuals. This research concludes that fear of deportation, cultural and religious values, language barriers, and institutionalized gender inequality have created systemic barriers to access in this population. In order to mitigate these barriers, it is recommended that programs take time to understand these structural barriers, through education for providers on structural competency and that reproductive health services increase and maintain an intersectional feminist approach. In addition, the development of outreach and advocacy programs for Spanish speaking populations, and mandatory healthy relationships education for youth, assist in lessening these disparities by meeting Spanish speakers where they are at and educating them about services.
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Authors: Irwin, Corinna
Institution: Humboldt State University
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Degree: Master of Arts in Applied Anthropology
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Pages: 132
Data Collections: IPUMS USA
Topics: Education, Gender, Other
Countries: United States