Let’s talk youth-centred sexual health!

Youth Sexual Health Gaps in BC

In BC, we continue to see elevated rates of STIs, sexual violence, unplanned pregnancies and early age parenting among youth (ages 15-29 years) outside major metropolitan centres, alongside limited access to safe, non-judgemental, and youth-centred sexual health services.

Despite a number of landmark policy changes in BC and across Canada to support youth sexual and reproductive health access (e.g. free contraception; Mifegymiso, broadened scope of pharmacists, nurses, and nurse practitioners) over the last few years, there remains concerning gaps in youth sexual and reproductive health services in smaller urban areas and rural and remote communities, with disproportionate gaps for youth with intersecting, minoritized social identities (e.g. LGBTQ/2S, Indigeneity, newcomer, racialized youth).

The Project

With funding from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), Options for Sexual Health and the UBC Sexual Health Evaluation Team have partnered to work with local youth and providers to map youth sexual health service gaps and inform the design of strengthened youth sexual health services in BC, with particular focus on underserved smaller urban centres and rural and remote communities.

Options for Sexual Health currently operates 30 clinics across BC and supports additional affiliate clinics run by local First Nations communities /or Northern Health Authority. Some clinics are stand alone, others are integrated within youth spaces, public health, or primary care. As of early 2025, Options has bridge funding for the year from the BC Ministry of Health while it undergoes strategic planning to inform more sustainable sexual and reproductive health service delivery in BC.

This is chance for youth and providers to share how they want to access / offer youth sexual health services in their community & what strengthened, youth-centred and locally-designed sexual health services could look like!