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The childhood sexual abuse recovery literature presents childhood sexual abuse as something with inevitable and devastating effects, which can be identified in the lives of adult women. These effects include a problematic relationship with issues relating to sex. This paper presents findings from an in-depth study of sixteen women in Britain, which looked at women's engagement with the recovery literature aimed at adult victims of childhood sexual abuse and, in particular, that aspect of the literature which dealt with sex. The paper highlights some of the problematic assumptions that underlie much of this literature before examining how women engage with this literature. The findings suggest that women, including those who have no knowledge or memories of having been sexually abused as children, use the ideas promoted in this literature to reinterpret child and adult experiences within a narrative framework of childhood sexual abuse and construct themselves as victims of such abuse and, in doing so, ignore those external factors which may better explain or improve their adult lives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports findings from a pilot study of lesbian parents in the UK who used medicalised donor insemination (DI) with unknown donors. It focuses on decision-making processes in family construction: this includes lesbian parents' experiences with clinicians and their family stories as told to clinicians and to their young children. Findings reveal that parents' understanding of family, particularly the centrality of the lesbian couple as the key parenting relationship, is crucial. We suggest that this group of parents make considered decisions about how their family might be created. It is their perception of what family means and their desire to protect the integrity of their family that leads them to negotiate social questions, particularly in relation to the presence of a 'father' and the familial role/relationship of the non-biological parent. The study calls attention to the process of respondents' reflexivity about family and their 'doing' of family and highlights the integrity and imagination central to becoming lesbian parents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Methodological studies examining the veracity of sexual behaviour reports frequently focus on the source of unreliable, inaccurate or inconsistent responses. This paper, instead, explores the means by which respondents might be assisted in providing an accurate account of their sexual experience. We present findings from a survey development study (second Great Britain National Survey of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles, development phase), which used in-depth interviews to explore respondents' experiences of completing a pilot survey of sexual behaviour. Follow up interviews were conducted across the UK with 36 of the pilot survey sample (n = 897). We explored factors that aided reliable reporting in each research format (survey and in-depth interview), as well as factors facilitating consistent reporting across formats. We show that factors such as assurances of confidentiality, survey legitimacy, rapport between interviewer and respondent and perceptions of the therapeutic benefit of disclosure can assist accurate disclosure across both survey and in-depth interview. We draw upon the strengths of qualitative methodology to make recommendations for future survey research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research on lesbian, gay and bisexual young people in the USA and UK has provided an important tool for advocacy and for developing appropriate public policy. Studies suggest that lesbian, gay and bisexual youth are more frequently victims of discrimination as a result of actual or perceived sexual orientation than adults, and anecdotal information suggests that transgender young people may be particularly vulnerable. During the past decade, high rates of victimization, particularly in school and community settings, has paralleled increased visibility. Increased media attention has focused on gay youth in schools, highlighting the need for support, appropriate policies and intervention. This paper reviews research and policy needs related to sexual minority youth in the USA and the UK and identifies strategies and approaches for reducing victimization and harassment and providing safer communities and school environments for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender young people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reviews the literature regarding levels of HIV antibody testing amongst gay men and rationales both for and against testing. Whilst marked differences in levels of reported testing were identified (regionally, nationally and across time), some consensus was found regarding reasons both for and against HIV antibody testing. Reasons for testing included accessing medical treatments, planning for the future and hoping for peace of mind. Reasons against testing included the negative psychological and social consequences of positive test results. The findings of the review are discussed in terms of recent medical discourses, which provide a powerful rationale for the uptake of HIV antibody testing amongst all gay men where treatments are available. Critically, we illustrate the lack of current research that seeks to reappraise HIV testing in the light of new HIV treatments, and discuss the implications for both research and practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Contraceptive services and genitourinary medicine in the UK have traditionally been organized separately. Convergence of the two specialties has recently become more widespread, and the number of centres at which family planning and genitourinary medicine services are integrated is increasing. This paper describes findings from a study of the views of medical professionals in the separate specialties of family planning and genitourinary medicine and the extent to which they may impede or enhance service integration. A purposive sample of health professionals working in genitourinary medicine, family planning and generic sexual health services in the UK, was selected to represent the views of staff at clinics in different residential areas and at different levels of integration. In-depth personal interviews were carried out with medical professionals working in the field of sexual health. V iews on the integration of sexual health services were explored and perceptions of the advantages and disadvantages of integration were documented. The views of sexual medical professionals on integrating family planning and genitourinary medicine services were found, for the most part, to be positive. Reservations, where expressed, were reserved for issues relating to professional status, career development and adequacy of expertise. Service integration was seen as benefiting clients. Agendas were in evidence, however, which may have less to do with improving the quality of services and more to do with enhancing professional status. Staff views need to be anticipated and taken account of in the planning of integrated services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]