AUTHOR=Meherali Salima , Louie-Poon Samantha , Idrees Sobia , Kauser Samar , Scott Shannon , Salami Bukola , Valliantos Helen , Meherali Kainat Moez , Patel Krishan , Suthar Puja , Akbarzada Zohra , Marcus Ivan , Khangura Manjot , Mangat Abneet 

TITLE=Understanding the sexual and reproductive health needs of immigrant adolescents in Canada: A qualitative study

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Reproductive Health

VOLUME=Volume 4 - 2022

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/reproductive-health/articles/10.3389/frph.2022.940979

DOI=10.3389/frph.2022.940979

ISSN=2673-3153

ABSTRACT=Literature suggests that immigrant adolescents receive limited sexual and reproductive health (SRH) education and rarely utilize SRH services in Canada. This study sought to explore the SRH information needs of immigrant adolescents in the province of Alberta. A qualitative descriptive methodology was undertaken to conduct 21 individual interviews with immigrant adolescents. A total of four themes emerged from the interviews: (1) Barriers for SRH; (2) needs of adolescents regarding SRH; (3) sources of knowledge; and (4) strategies to improve SRH. Our findings document the conflicting needs and preferences between adolescents and their parents regarding access to SRH resources and services. Adolescents often felt unprepared to deal with their SRH issues due to socio-cultural barriers and conflicts with their parents’ conservative attitude towards SRH concerns. Structural barriers to access SRH resources and services were also reported, including the location and cost of services. As a result, the majority of adolescents relied on digital methods to receive SRH information. This study highlights that future research and SRH service provider efforts need to remain cognizant of the positionality of immigrant adolescents and explore innovative ways to deliver SRH resources and services that meet their unique needs.