Perceptions and Experiences of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights Education among Students at Swedish for Immigrants – A qualitative study

Background The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is a global public health issue. Sweden has a national strategy for prevention of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and migrants are one of the target groups. One strategy to prevent HIV/STI is to increase knowledge through education on sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) in schools such as the Swedish language schools for immigrants (SFI). Aim The aim was to understand SFI students’ in Skåne experiences and perceptions of education on sexual and reproductive health and rights. Method This was a qualitative study and nine interviews were conducted with SFI students in Sweden using qualitative content analysis to analyse the manifest and latent meaning of the data. Results One theme emerged from the data: Sexual and reproductive health and rights at SFI – A tool for HIV/STI prevention, but contingent upon various factors. Categories and subcategories supporting the theme described that SFI students recognized SRHR education as important for HIV/STI prevention and to increase knowledge. Other sources than SFI were the main sources of knowledge on SRHR among SFI students. Informants questioned the purpose of SRHR education to SFI students based on experiences as being treated as having no knowledge and that it is more important to educate young people than adults. Finally, informants preferred gender separated groups and qualified educators in delivery of SRHR education. Conclusions SFI is one arena where SRHR education can be provided together with other arenas. SRHR education at SFI is important to prevent HIV/STIs, increase knowledge, share knowledge to others and have a SRHR vocabulary useful for daily life. Education on SRHR needs to be based on the knowledge needs of the SFI students, and not based on teachers and educators’ assumptions and prejudice. In addition, SRHR education can be provided in gender-separated groups with qualified educators that are competent, comfortable and respectful