Discussing Sexual Health with a Partner: A Qualitative Study with Young Women‪.‬

ABSTRACT: Twenty-two female, heterosexual, undergraduate students were interviewed about the health protective sexual communication (HPSC) that did or did not occur with their most recent sexual partner prior to first intercourse. The narratives derived from this qualitative study provided insight into the content and extent of HPSC occurring prior to intercourse, the perceived barriers and facilitators to HPSC, and to the strategies used to initiate such discussions. The analysis of the narratives resulted in the development of ten themes that appeared to encompass the various influences on this communication process. The findings revealed that typically, very little (if any) HPSC occurred prior to first intercourse, that there were numerous perceived barriers to this communication process, and that most of the participants did not have the communication skills necessary to initiate such discussion. Key words: Sexual communication Condom use ST1 STD