Adolescents' experiences of the public health nurse's accessibility, guidance, and counseling about sexuality: a qualitative study.

INTRODUCTION: Public health nurses play a central role in health promotion and preventive care and are involved in various aspects of adolescent health, including sexuality. Adolescents' sexuality has changed significantly over the past few decades and is characterized by an increase in abortion and sexually transmitted infections. These developments have potentially wide-ranging consequences for adolescents' health at both individual and societal levels. Therefore, this study aimed to explore adolescents' experiences of the public health nurse's accessibility, guidance, and counseling concerning sexuality. METHODS: A qualitative, explorative design with an inductive approach was applied. Data collection was carried out in 2024-25 using individual interviews based on a semi-structured interview guide. A total of eleven girls aged 16-20 who had been in contact with public health nurses in their school health service or at a youth health center for guidance and counseling related to sexuality were included in the study. The data material was analyzed in accordance with Graneheim and Lundman's qualitative content analysis. RESULTS: The overarching theme, key elements influencing adolescents' contact with public health nurses, summarizes three main categories: a focus-oriented service offered for adolescents' use, the dynamics of the interaction, and public health nurses' role, followed by six subcategories. CONCLUSION: The engagement of adolescents with public health nurses in relation to sexual health issues is influenced by an interaction between accessibility, relational quality and the role of public health nurses in sexual health education. Collectively, these factors appeared to support health literacy and the process of help-seeking. An increase of the public health nurse's visibility and involvement in school settings has the potential to further facilitate adolescents access to support based on trust and sexuality-related guidance. Public health nurses also play a key role in sexual education, underscoring the importance of close collaboration between youth health services and upper secondary schools to effectively support adolescents' needs and wellbeing.