Women require comprehensive and reliable sexual and reproductive health information to make their own informed choices and decisions. Information needs to be transparent and accessible, particularly for disadvantaged women.
Australian Women's Health Network 2019
Sexual & Reproductive Health (SRH) literacy significantly increases a person’s ability to make choices about their health.
The Southern Metropolitan Region (SMR) of Melbourne is home to a diverse population. It encompasses a range of socio-economic statuses and ethnicities as well as marginalised communities.
With such demographics, the ability to access reliable and comprehensive information in language may be challenging. Access to a wide range of information in a variety of languages may not exist or it be limited to only specific languages.
Competency and confidence in seeking out SRH information may also be challenging for some women. For other women, cultural barriers may prevent them from accessing information and support. These challenges may limit women’s ability to make the most appropriate choices for themselves.
“Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and women from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds are likely to experience a myriad of barriers when seeking health information.”
Australian Women's Health Network, 2019
Some of these barriers include different (and at times opposing) views about health and religious and cultural beliefs including the notion of fatalism. Moreover, specific gender norms may prevent women from accessing healthcare, especially SRH as these may be considered to be too sensitive to discuss openly with health professionals.
It is noteworthy to remember that health literacy encompasses more than just educating or empowering people; it is also about ensuring health providers and organisations are able to appropriately communicate and disseminate information with people from a range of backgrounds.