Health Insurance and Access to Contraceptives - Literature review Example

Sexual Health and Family Planning Student’s ID Student’s Name Course Code Tutor Word Count: 2072 Sexual Health and Family Planning Journal Entry 1: Sexuality Sexuality means the integral part of an individual either man or woman. Sexuality therefore involves belief system, individual’s feelings and how both men and female respond to each other. It is considered as the main sense of being male or female (WHO, 2012). Introduction Sexual health forms an important aspect in the society. Sexual health therefore involves relevance to health workers. Various factors such as culture, religion and politics play a role in influencing on how individuals understand the aspect of sex and sexuality (Pitts, 2005). Journal Entry 2: Evaluation of the Articles Article 1: O’Brien Susie, Herald Sun, ‘Time for abortion law reforms’ 02 December 2013. http://blogs.news.com.au/heraldsun/seewhatsusiesays/index.php/heraldsun/comments/time_for_abortion_law_reform/?nk=8f4a72d1387bdeb0a3c37b6f702102be. The article addresses the reformation of abortion laws in general terms. It explains that the abortion laws should be reformed in such a manner that it protects fully the rights of the female patients from doctors who have conscientious objection to procurement of abortion. In addition, the abortion laws should not be watered down by politicians interested in pushing anti-abortion plans. Hence, the abortion laws should be amended in such a way that it preserves the right of women seeking abortions while guarantee a higher standard of health care. Article 2: The Daily Telegraph, males and females circumcision July 2014. http://www.dailytelegraph.com/releases /news_2014.html. The article engaged in debating the health issue of male and female circumcision. Various opinions were raised in regards to whether male and female genital mutilation was equal. One of the opinions involved the view that male circumcision and female genital mutilation were incomparable. According to the opinion the cutting of a boy’s foreskin is not harmful but female genital mutilation is harmful and evil. This has made the circumcision lobby to be worried in the comparison of male and female circumcision. Article 3: ‘Novak Lauren, Push to decriminalize prostitution in South Australia fails by one vote’ 15 November 2012, http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/push-to-decriminalise-prostitution-in-south-australia-fails-by-one-vote/story-e6frea83-122. This article was about passing a bill to decriminalize abortion in South Australia. According to the article the Bill seeks to decriminalize every form of prostitution including at home, street work, escort services, in brothels but restrained soliciting as an offence if it happened in the existence of other people. Eight MPs were missing due to various reasons. A vote was taken in the Lower House of Parliament whereby the proposed law encountered 20 votes to 19 defeat. Article 4: Brazier. ‘Health insurance and access to contraceptives’ Sunday Telegraph July 2013.www.civitas.org.uk/Sunday telegraph/contraceptives and insurance//. The article focuses on the use of insurance in coverage of contraceptive. The health insurance policy in most cases only caters for the treatment of various forms of diseases excluding the offering of family planning methods or contraceptives to clients. Hence the article argues that there is great need to incorporate contraceptive within the framework of health insurance in Australia. Article 5: ‘Creating awareness on risky behavior among the youth’ 23 August 2013. http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/265116.php. This article engages in addressing the importance of creating awareness of the repercussions of risk behaviors among the youth. This risky behaviors may involve lesbianism and gay that the young people may fall pray without being awareness of the health implications of the risky health behaviors. Journal Entry 3: Definitions Biologic Sex: this is mainly defined in terms of biological orientations of a particular sex that makes them to be regarded as either male or female. Hence it involves both the physiological and biological components that are engaged in defining men and women. In biologic sex men are defined with the XY sex determination that involves a pair of sex chromosomes and 22 pairs of autosomal chromosomes (Campo-Arias, 2010). Gender Identity: is a term that refers to an individual’s inner psychological identification as being either a man or a woman. This identification may or may not match to an individual’s assigned se during birth. Hence gender identity is described as an individual’s sense of being either a man or a woman. It is therefore an inner conviction of an individual as being either male or female distinguished from the actual biological sex (Campo-Arias, 2010). Gender Role: involves all the activities that an individual engages in that identify them as being male or female. In most cases gender roles are cultural based that are constructed through social and behavioral norms. The discernment of gender roles involves attitudes, activities and a personality features that is linked with a specific gender in the context of cultural norms within the confines of a particular society (Campo-Arias, 2010). Journal Entry 4: Health Promotion Strategies Health promotion strategies are mainly meant for the purpose of promotion of sexual health issues in the society. These health promotion strategies include: Dynamic participation of the target group in health promotion activities in the society. In most sexual health issues there is involvement of a particular target group. For instance the youth can actively engage in sexual health promotion programs that relate to sex and sexuality (AIHW, 2010). Health education awareness forms an essential form of strategy in health promotion. It involves imparting knowledge in terms of health to a specific targeted group of individuals (Pitts, 2005). Health awareness workshops and roadshows. This involves an important health promotion strategy or activities. Through the process of organizing workshops and roadshows to target a particular group awareness and health promotion is achieved. For instance workshops or roadshows may be organized with the main target being the adolescent. The objectives of the workshops/roadshows in this case may involve creating awareness of the risky sexual behaviors among the youth and its impacts to their general health and that of the society at large (WHO, 2012). Sexual and Reproductive Health Sexual and reproductive behavior during the adolescent stage is considered to involves long term form of consequences among the adolescent. Adolescent involves a stage in life whereby individuals both boys and girls become fully aware of their sexuality and engage in the experimentation of various activities. These activities may have a far reaching impact in their adulthood lives. Various surveys conducted in 2008 in relation to secondary school students and sexual health indicated that at least three quarters (75%) of students in their secondary education have had an experience in sexual activity of varied forms. It is therefore essential to incorporate sexual and reproductive health programs within the education system so as to create awareness of the impact of sexual activities among the adolescent. In addition, this will be essential in terms of imparting knowledge on adolescent on the impacts of risky sexual behaviors (Pitts, 2005). Journal Entry 5: expressing Sexuality in Patient Records In most hospitals there is an involvement of a section that comprises the sexual health information for patients to express their sexuality. In most of the reviews of these records female patients were mostly concerned with the type of contraception used, their menstruation period and the number of children. As for the male patients there was more emphasis on the account of Sexual Transmitted Infections (STIs). Hence the review of the patient’s records within the context of hospitals was important in revealing the neglect in health sexuality concerns. It is therefore important for nurses to engage in focusing more on health sexuality matters in relation to patients within the context of hospitals and the society at large. According to AIHW (2010) there is an increase in percentage in terms of the median first age of intercourse among Australians. Girls are more prone to engage in intercourse at a pretty young age as compared to boys. Hence girls engage in their first intercourse at relatively the age of 12 while boys recorded their first intercourse at the age of 15. In addition, 10% of the total live births in Australia occur outside marriage mainly among the teenage mothers. In 2010 the median age of mothers at the birth of their first child was between 15-19 years. There is lack of (AIHW, 2010). Sexual Health and the Role of Nurses/Midwife Nurses and midwives are considered as primary health care providers. The role of nurses is particularly evident in adolescent sexual and reproductive health services. Hence the major role of nurses involves offering information, awareness and a form of counseling to in relation to sexual activities among adolescents and reproductive health to women. Nurses should uphold the virtue of confidentiality in relation to information in regards to sexuality and reproductive health. Journal Entry 6: Values and Principles Values Fairness Honesty Respecting others Confidentiality Not harming others Principles Right to basic freedoms in life Right to access basic needs in life Basic and fundamental right to life Journal Entry 7: Procedures and Processes Dealing with Sexual Assault In the recent times sexual assault has been on the increase. This is especially evident in sexual assault against women. The process of dealing with any type of sexual assault for instance rape involves making a report to the police. Hence the only way to make the attacker punished is through reporting so as to also avoid the occurrence of a similar incident in future. In most cases police investigations begin with the process of collection of forensic evidence. This is done for the purposes of proving the occurrence of a sexual assault. Victims of sexual assault are therefore encouraged not to wash, not to brush their teeth, not to eat or drink and not to clear up the area of the incident. There is the existence of various forms of services to the victims of sexual assault. These services include counseling to the victim and their families, medical services to the victim and legal services (Flitcraft, 1992). Sexual Health Religion and Law Sexual health is mainly influenced by such factors such as religion and legal factors. In terms of religion there are certain religions for instance the Catholic Church that is against the use of contraceptives among women. Hence in this case religion is considered as limiting the access of sexual health services in form of contraceptives among women. Other behaviours such premarital sex and abortion are also prohibited. This helps in shaping and individual’s sexual being. Journal Entry 8: Religious Beliefs on Sexuality Issues Contraception: Most Christian denominations for instance the Catholic Church do not support the use of contraceptives as it viewed as going against the will of God in creation. Abortion: Christianity does not support abortion. It is viewed as killing of the unborn child. Killing is reflected in the Ten Commandments as ‘Do not kill’. Homosexuality: Christianity does not support homosexuality. It is considered as going against the will of God in creating man and woman. Premarital Sex: Sex before marriage is prohibited in Christianity. It is viewed as evil and immoral. Masturbation: Christianity prohibits the act of masturbation as it is considered as sinful. Adultery: Adultery is prohibited in Christianity as it goes against the Ten Commandments that Christians should uphold. Marriage: In Christianity the union of marriage is considered as holy and therefore supported by Christians. Same Sex Marriage: Christianity prohibits same sex marriage as the Bible advocates for marriage between a man and a woman. In conclusion, the Christianity belief system in relation to sexuality refutes some current legislations and laws that have been enacted in respect to issues such as same gay/lesbian marriages, abortion and homosexuality. List of References Flitcraft, A. (1992). Violence, values and gender. Journal of the American Medical Association, 267,3194-3195. The Daily Telegraph, 2014, ‘Male and Female Circumcision debated in Daily Telegraph’, < http://www.circinfo.org/news_2014.html > Viewed 03 September 2014. Brazier, 2013, ‘Health insurance and access to contraceptives’ Sunday Telegraph July 2013.www.civitas.org.uk/Sunday telegraph/contraceptives and insurance//. O’Brien,S.,2013,‘Timeforabortionlawreforms’< http://blogs.news.com.au/heraldsun/seewhatsusiesays/index.php/heraldsun/comments/tim e_for_abortion_law_reform/?nk=8f4a72d1387bdeb0a3c37b6f702102be> Viewed 03 September 2014. AIHW 2010, Australia's health 2010, Australia's health no. 12, Cat. no. AUS 122, AIHW, Canberra, p. 310. Accessed from: www.aihw.gov.au. Viewed 03 September 2014. WHO 2012, Gender and human rights, Geneva, viewed 3 September 2014, http://www.who.int/reproductivehealth/topics/gender_rights/sexual_health/en/.Viewed 03 September 2014. Pitts, M 2005, ‘Introduction: sexual health for all? Australia today’, in M Temple-Smith & S Gifford (eds), Sexual health: an Australian perspective, IP Communications, Melbourne, pp. xix-xxxi. Medical News Today 2013, ‘Creating awareness on risky behavior among the youth’, Medical News Today, Viewed 03 September 2014. Novak L, 2012, Push to decriminalize prostitution in South Australia fails by one vote’ Viewed 03 September 2014. Campo-Arias, A., 2010, Essential Aspects and Practical Implications of Sexual Identity. Retrieved on September 9, 2014 from http://redalyc.uaemex.mx/redalyc/pdf/283/28316817011.pdf Read More