Sexual behaviour, drug use and health service use by young Noongar people in Western Australia: A snapshot

Williams, R; Lawrence, C; Wilkes, E; Shipp, M; Henry, B; Eades, S; Mathers, B; Kaldor, J; Maher, L; Gray, D

Sexual behaviour, drug use and health service use by young Noongar people in Western Australia: A snapshot

Williams, R Lawrence, C

Wilkes, E Shipp, M Henry, B Eades, S Mathers, B Kaldor, J Maher, L Gray, D

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Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Sexual Health, 2015, 12 (3), pp. 188 - 193
Issue Date:: 2015-01-01

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Williams, R	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Lawrence, C https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6382-8986	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Wilkes, E	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Shipp, M	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Henry, B	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Eades, S	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Mathers, B	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Kaldor, J	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Maher, L	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Gray, D	en_US
dc.date.available	2014-10-03	en_US
dc.date.issued	2015-01-01	en_US
dc.identifier.citation	Sexual Health, 2015, 12 (3), pp. 188 - 193	en_US
dc.identifier.issn	1448-5028	en_US
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/119446
dc.description.abstract	© CSIRO 2015. Background: This study aimed to describe sexual health behaviour, alcohol and other drug use, and health service use among young Noongar people in the south-west of Western Australia. Method: A cross-sectional survey was undertaken among a sample of 244 Noongar people aged 16-30 years. Results: The sample was more disadvantaged than the wider Noongar population. Sexual activity was initiated at a young age, 18% had two or more casual sex partners in the previous 12 months, with men more likely to have done so than women (23% vs 14%). Condoms were always or often carried by 57% of men and 37% of women, and 36% of men and 23% of women reported condom use at last sex with a casual partner. Lifetime sexually transmissible infection diagnosis was 14%. Forty percent currently smoked tobacco and 25% reported risky alcohol consumption on a weekly and 7% on an almost daily basis. Cannabis was used by 37%, 12% used drugs in addition to cannabis and 11% reported recently injecting drugs. In the previous 12 months, 66% had a health check and 31% were tested for HIV or sexually transmissible infections. Additionally, 25% sought advice or assistance for mental health or alcohol and other drug issues. Discussion: Although some respondents engaged in risky sexual behaviour, alcohol and other drug use or both, most did not. Particularly encouraging was the engagement of respondents with the health care system, especially among those engaging in risky behaviours. The results confound negative stereotypes of Aboriginal people and demonstrate a level of resilience among respondents.	en_US
dc.relation.ispartof	Sexual Health	en_US
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1071/SH14038	en_US
dc.subject.classification	Public Health	en_US
dc.title	Sexual behaviour, drug use and health service use by young Noongar people in Western Australia: A snapshot	en_US
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	3	en_US
utslib.citation.volume	12	en_US
utslib.for	111701 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health	en_US
utslib.for	169902 Studies of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Society	en_US
utslib.for	11 Medical and Health Sciences	en_US
utslib.for	16 Studies in Human Society	en_US
pubs.embargo.period	Not known	en_US
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology
utslib.copyright.status	closed_access
pubs.issue	3	en_US
pubs.publication-status	Published	en_US
pubs.volume	12	en_US

Abstract:

© CSIRO 2015. Background: This study aimed to describe sexual health behaviour, alcohol and other drug use, and health service use among young Noongar people in the south-west of Western Australia. Method: A cross-sectional survey was undertaken among a sample of 244 Noongar people aged 16-30 years. Results: The sample was more disadvantaged than the wider Noongar population. Sexual activity was initiated at a young age, 18% had two or more casual sex partners in the previous 12 months, with men more likely to have done so than women (23% vs 14%). Condoms were always or often carried by 57% of men and 37% of women, and 36% of men and 23% of women reported condom use at last sex with a casual partner. Lifetime sexually transmissible infection diagnosis was 14%. Forty percent currently smoked tobacco and 25% reported risky alcohol consumption on a weekly and 7% on an almost daily basis. Cannabis was used by 37%, 12% used drugs in addition to cannabis and 11% reported recently injecting drugs. In the previous 12 months, 66% had a health check and 31% were tested for HIV or sexually transmissible infections. Additionally, 25% sought advice or assistance for mental health or alcohol and other drug issues. Discussion: Although some respondents engaged in risky sexual behaviour, alcohol and other drug use or both, most did not. Particularly encouraging was the engagement of respondents with the health care system, especially among those engaging in risky behaviours. The results confound negative stereotypes of Aboriginal people and demonstrate a level of resilience among respondents.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/119446