title: Making sexual health more accessible.
abstract: Sexual health is the capacity and freedom to enjoy and express sexuality without fear of exploitation, oppression, physical or emotional harm. Sexual health needs are influenced by many factors including age, lifestyle, motivation, perception, culture and beliefs. Service providers need to understand the complexity of these influences to enable people to make informed choices. Assumptions about individuals and attempting to simplify their needs leads to services being delivered in a way which limits access and choice. The National Strategy for Sexual Health and HIV was launched in 2001 to bring about a new, consumer-oriented approach to sexual health services. The work of the UK sexual health charity fpa in providing accessible information is described.
authors.forename: Lynn
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hearton
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D054626:Consumer Health Information; D005193:Family Planning Services; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D015277:Hotlines / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019529:Sexuality; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control; D006113:United Kingdom