Sexual Health Information and uptake of Sexual Health Services by African women in Scotland: A Pilot Study

UK sub-Saharan African immigrants are dis-proportionably affected by HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) and there is little evidence that they are utilising sexual health facilities effectively. Information is lacking on how African women utilise sexual health services. Research shows that they report late for diagnosis of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STis) especially HIV. Many are diagnosed in antenatal clinics or general hospital settings rather than in sexual health clinics. These routes of diagnosis have implications for their sexual health well being. First, only pregnant women are likely to be diagnosed early and secondly others are diagnosed late, when they show HIV-related symptoms. They lack up-to-date information regarding STis including HIV/AIDS. This paper identifies sources of sexual health information available to African women and assesses its effects on their uptake of sexual health services.