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Beck, A, Majmudar, A, Estcourt, C, Petrak, J. (2005). "We don't really have cause to discuss these things, they don't affect us": a collaborative model for developing culturally appropriate sexual health services with the Bangladeshi community of Tower Hamlets. Sexually Transmitted Infections, 81(2), 158-162.
- This report identified barriers to accessing sexual health services among the Bangladeshi community of east London, as well as strategies to help increase utilization of these services in the community. The data from this study can help to develop an appropriate model of community participation that can improve sexual health services for the Bangladeshi community.
- Among the Bangladeshi study participants, four main themes were reported as affecting access to services:
- Concerns over confidentiality
- Relevance of services to the community
- Problems with discussing sexual issues
- Problems with previous experiences of health promotion
- Many factors prevented the Bangladeshi community from accessing sexual health services, including community beliefs about sex outside of marriage as a forbidden act, as well as providers’ lack of understanding of cultural traditions surrounding sexual education, behavior, and childbirth experiences.
- Based on findings from the study, recommendations were adopted to improve access to sexual health services in the Bangladeshi community, such as:
- Clear statements about confidentiality were provided in Bengali
- -Culturally appropriate educational materials were developed
- Health advisors were recruited with appropriate cultural understanding and language skills
- Additionally, the study recommends that health promotion and intervention can be better informed by involvement of existing community-based groups, such as faith-based organizations.
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