SEXIT as a screening tool to identify adolescents exposed to or at risk of sexual ill-health and sexual risk taking

Abstract

Background: Mental ill health is increasing among adolescents, and self-injury is one expression of mental ill health. Sexual risk taking among adolescents is often associated with exposure to violence. Sex could be used as a strategy to regulate negative emotions and feelings of emptiness. The health promotion work of school nurses (SNs) can be one way to identify students who are exposed to or at risk of sexual ill-health and sexual risk taking. By using the SEXual health Identification Tool (SEXIT) in health dialogues, SNs can identify students exposed to or at risk of sexual ill-health and sexual risk taking. Aim: To describe SNs’ experience of using SEXIT in health dialogues with students. Methods: An exploratory design was used. Six SNs participated in semi-structured individual interviews, and the data were analysed with qualitative content analysis. Results: Three categories were identified: ‘SEXIT provides support and structure’, ‘SEXIT provides conditions for designing a good dialogue’, and ‘working with SEXIT includes managing challenges’. Conclusions: SNs have a critical role in the identification of students with sexual ill-health and sexual risk taking as well as those exposed to violence. SEXIT could be included and systematically used in the health dialogue as it enables a natural dialogue with students about a sensitive topic and creates the prerequisites to identify adolescents at risk of sexual ill health.