Young bisexual women's sexual health care experiences in Australian rural general practice.

Abstract

To examine how young bisexual women in rural Tasmania experience routine sexual health care in general practice settings. Semi-structured interviews with bisexual women were used for this study. Self-selected and purposive sampling were used to recruit women in 2015. Participants were recruited via community social media pages and a not-for-profit organisation supporting same-sex attracted rural youth. Data were analysed thematically. Regional and rural areas in the north and south of Tasmania, Australia. Fifteen bisexual women, 18-26years of age, with experience seeking sexual health care in Tasmania. Semi-structured interviews explored women's experiences of inclusive sexual health care. Four key themes emerged from the thematic analysis: (a) issues of health care accessibility in rural Tasmania; (b) the importance of visual signs of inclusivity in rural clinics; (c) practitioner attitudes; and (d) use of inclusive, gender-neutral language. Rural bisexual women prefer practitioners who make meaningful efforts to be inclusive and take a non-judgmental approach to sexual health care. Additional resources are needed to support rural communities and their health care providers to prioritise inclusive health practices.