Low Knowledge, Awareness, and Availability of Sexual Health Services: An Assessment of a Diverse North Dallas Community.
Beckman, Drew A.; Gonzalez, Edgar; Coleman, Bendu; Chow, Jeremy Y.
Why this matters
Privacy, trust, and convenience determine whether people will use mobile sexual health services. In a North Dallas community assessment of 100 residents, 91 percent said they would feel comfortable using a mobile clinic for sexual health services, and 57 percent named lack of awareness as the main barrier.
Abstract
An exploratory community assessment in an underserved community in Dallas, Texas, was conducted to gain insight into perceptions of existing access, barriers, and preferences for sexual health services (n=100). Most participants said they would feel comfortable accessing sexual health services in a mobile clinic (91%). Wide lack of awareness of sexual health services was cited as the primary barrier by 57%. Many ethnic and sexual minorities disproportionately affected by HIV/STI epidemics lack access to sexual health services in their communities.