Juliet Richters

UNSW Sydney | UNSW · Kirby Institute

The Australian Study of Health and Relationships is a large national population-representative survey of sexual behavior and attitudes conducted every decade. We describe experiences of sexual difficulties lasting at least a month among Australians surveyed in 2012-2013 and identify changes since the previous survey in 2001-2002. Computer-assisted...

Background: Dual protection refers to the simultaneous prevention of sexually transmissible infection (STI) and unintended pregnancies. Optimal contraception and STI prevention strategies sometimes fail to align. Methods: Using data from a large nationally representative population-based survey, we analysed the contraception and STI prevention b...

Objective: To enumerate pregnancy outcomes for a representative sample of women in Australia surveyed in 2012–2013 (primary aim) and compare these with women surveyed in 2001–2002 (secondary aim). Methods: Computer-assisted telephone interviews with over 10,000 women aged 16–69 years (participation rate 68.4%). Results are weighted for chance of se...

Intoxication can be a factor in unwanted sex, but research on the extent of the issue in both women and men is limited. We assessed the prevalence, correlates, and 10-year time-trends of unwanted sex due to intoxication among a representative sample of 4,279 women and 3,875 men aged 16–69 years in Australia and considered how these vary by gender....

Many papers have been written on the process of coming out by individuals with predominantly same-sex sexual orientation but few of these papers have explored the concept of how people negotiate the idea of coming out in prison. We conducted in-depth interviews with 13 prisoners and one ex-prisoner in New South Wales, Australia, who self-identified...

Background We aimed to explore the impact of externally worn diabetes technologies on sexual behavior and activity, body image, and anxiety in adopters and nonadopters of these devices. Methods People with type 1 diabetes aged 16-60 years living in Western Australia were invited to complete an online survey. Results Of the 289 respondents (mean a...

Background In 2007, a national school-based vaccination program for human papillomavirus (HPV) among 12–13-year-olds was introduced in Australia, as well as a catch-up program for women aged ≤26. We examined associations between vaccine initiation and sexual activity to address concerns among some members of society that vaccination implies approva...

Whereas sexually dimorphic evolutionary models argue for clear sex differences in responses to jealousy-evoking scenarios, social cognitive models emphasize the importance of other factors. This paper explores variables associated with responses to a commonly-used jealousy-evoking scenario in a population-representative sample. Data from 8,386 Aust...

Over a decade after emergency contraceptive pills (ECPs) became available without a prescription, the rate of unintended pregnancies remains high in many settings. Understanding women’s experiences and perceptions of ECPs may provide insights into this underutilization. We systematically searched databases to identify qualitative and quantitative p...

BACKGROUND Studies have reported on the proportion of the population looking for potential sexual partners using internet sites and smartphone apps, but few have investigated those who have sex with these partners, arguably a more important target group for health promotion. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to determine the proportion of people who have...

Co-authored by a discourse analyst, a branding expert and medical researchers and practitioners, this paper presents a multimodal discourse analysis of advertisements for contraceptive products in magazines and journals aimed at general practitioners, gynecologists and obstetricians. It combines genre analysis and multimodal image, layout, colour a...

This study investigated differences between the demographic characteristics, participation rates (i.e., agreeing to respond to questions about sexual behavior), and sexual behaviors of landline and mobile phone samples in Australia. A nationally representative sample of Australians aged 18 years and over was recruited via random digit dialing in De...

Background Few studies have examined smoking and female sexual difficulties. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between current tobacco smoking and sexual difficulties in Australian men and women. Methods: Data for this study came from the Second Australian Study of Health and Relationships (2012-13), which includes a repres...

In a national telephone-based survey, information on sexual behaviour and outcomes were collected from 20091 randomly selected Australians in 2012-13. Data were weighted and analysed to determine the proportion of those who had received school-based sex education and to examine the associations between sex education and sexual health outcomes, spec...

It has been claimed that the decriminalization of sex work may result in its proliferation, but there is no evidence to prove or disprove this claim. We investigated whether decriminalization was associated with the prevalence of paying for sex. A representative national sample of 8074 Australian men interviewed by telephone reported whether they h...

We examine the lived experiences of transgender women in Australian men’s and women’s prisons. We draw on Alice Ristroph’s sexual punishments framework to discuss the diversity and ambiguities of sexual experiences reported by participants, and argue for a need to move beyond the dominant narrative of prison rape.

Background: The number of prescriptions for contraceptive implants has steadily increased in Australia, but implant use is still low. Objective: The objectives of the study were to describe women's nuanced responses, and characterise their multidimensional and complex reasons for (dis)continuing use of the contraceptive implant. Methods: A des...

Women's liberation and the sexual revolution have changed the social landscape for heterosexual women in the West over the past 50 years, but exploration of women's lived experiences of contraceptive use in the context of their sexual lives is comparatively recent. We conducted 94 in-depth open-ended interviews with women of reproductive age (16-49...

Background: Social networking and digital media increasingly have an impact on the lives of young people. We undertook a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies that examined the relationship between exposure to sexually explicit websites (SEWs) and 'sexting' (i.e. sending semi-nude or nude photos from a mobile phone) and the sexual attitud...

There are societal concerns that looking at pornography has adverse consequences among those exposed. However, looking at sexually explicit material could have educative and relationship benefits. This article identifies factors associated with looking at pornography ever or within the past 12 months for men and women in Australia, and the extent t...

Very little research has focused on men or prisoners as victims of sexual violence. This study provides the first population-based analysis of factors associated with sexual coercion of men in Australian prisons, and the first to use a computer-assisted telephone interview to collect this information in a prison setting. A random sample of men in N...

Background: There is a lack of research focused specifically on the contraceptive and sexual health practices of Japanese women living in Australia. Objective: This paper reports findings from a cohort of migrant Japanese women who participated in a study of Australian women's understanding and experience of contraceptives. Methods: In-depth,...

Objective: Given ongoing debates about the “reality” and stability of bisexuality, it is important to understand why people with bisexual experiences do or do not identify as bisexual. This paper presents analyses designed to determine which people with bisexual experience identify as bisexual. Design and Method: This paper reports analyses of a po...

Objective: Evolutionary models posit that jealousy is a sexually dimorphic phenomenon: men worry most about a partner’s sexual infidelity and women worry most about emotional infidelity. Social cognitive models emphasize that the presence and size of sex differences varies between and within cultures. Our aim was to examine how sex and other variab...

Objective: To document the use of contraception by a representative sample of Australian women aged 16-49 years and compare it with 2001-2002. Methods: Women were asked about their use of contraception and method used or reason for non-use during computer-assisted telephone interviews in 2012-2013. Women were sampled by random digit dialling of...

Background Contraception is a field in which good doctor–patient communication is crucial and core to shared decision making. Despite the centrality of contraception to primary health care in Australia, little is known about how doctors manage the contraceptive consultation. In particular, little is known about how doctors discuss sexual issues rel...

Objective Few studies have explored Australian women's understandings of contraception. This study examined the attitudes towards, and understandings of, the subdermal contraceptive implant expressed by women living in New South Wales (NSW), Australia. Study design As part of a larger qualitative study using in-depth, open-ended interviews in 2012–...

Summary of study findings prepared for the media

Sexual violence is recognised as a global and public health problem (WHO 2002; Dumond 2003; Wolff & Shi 2009; Yap et al. 2011) and encompasses, according to the World Health Organization, any sexual act, attempt to obtain a sexual act, unwanted sexual comments, or advances against a person’s sexuality using coercion, by any person regardless of the...

Sexual violence is recognised as a global and public health problem. Most research on sexual violence has focused on the experience of women as victims and has occurred in non-incarcerated community contexts. Very little research has focused on men as victims or on those incarcerated. Indeed, prisoners are routinely excluded from community surveys...

Australia is largely secular, with about 50% reporting a religion in surveys. Attitudes are tolerant, with a majority regarding homosexual acts and abortion as acceptable, and few disapproving of premarital sex. However, sex outside a committed relationship is widely disapproved of. Use of contraception is high. States differ in legislation and pol...

Background: Comprehensive sex education has been strongly linked to better sexual health outcomes. ASHR2 provides population-based data about the sexual health and practices of Australians. This analysis examines the associations between sex education, sexual behaviour and sexually transmissible infections (STIs). Methods: Computer-assisted telepho...

Background: In recent years, the number of sexually transmissible infections (STIs) has skyrocketed in Australia and cause a considerable burden on public health. The association between STIs and sexual behaviour is well-established in high-risk populations but information about the general population is less well-known. ASHR2 provides population-b...

Background In recent years, the number of sexually transmissible infections (STIs) has skyrocketed in Australia and cause a considerable burden on public health. The association between STIs and sexual behaviour is well-established in high-risk populations but information about the general population is less well-known. ASHR2 provides population-ba...

This report is based on an analysis of data from men in NSW recruited as part of the Second Australian Study of Health and Relationships (ASHR2) combined with a separate oversample of 1015 men commissioned by NSW Health. The report presents detailed findings on men’s sexual identity and sexual practices, protective behaviours such as condom use, ex...

To examine the clinical and epidemiological literature addressing contraceptive method change or discontinuation and to assess whether the documented reasons reflected women's experiences. Major databases including Medline and PsycINFO were searched using keywords related to contraception and discontinuation, adherence and satisfaction, for article...

Background Sexually transmissible infections (STIs) present a substantial public health burden, and are related to modifiable sexual behaviours. Methods: Computer-assisted telephone interviews were completed by a population-representative sample of 20 094 men and women aged 16–69 years. The overall participation rate among eligible people was 66.2%...

Unlabelled: Background The aim of this study is to describe homosexual experience and characteristics of recent homosexual encounters among Australian adults and identify changes between 2001-02 and 2012-13. Methods: Computer-assisted telephone interviews were completed by a representative sample of 20094 men and women aged 16-69 years and the p...

Unlabelled: Background It is important to have current and reliable estimates of the frequency and correlates of condom use among Australian adults. Methods: A representative sample of 20094 men and women aged 16-69 years, from all states and territories, completed computer-assisted telephone interviews. The overall participation rate among elig...

free full text available here: http://www.publish.csiro.au/nid/164/paper/SH14112.htm

Unlabelled: Background The aim of this study was to describe important characteristics of Australian adults' heterosexual regular sexual relationships and examine how these characteristics have changed since 2002. Methods: Computer-assisted landline and mobile telephone interviews were completed by a representative sample of 20 094 Australian re...

Unlabelled: Background It is important to have current reliable estimates of the prevalence, correlates and consequences of sexual coercion among a representative sample of Australian adults and to identify changes over time in prevalence and consequences. Methods: Computer-assisted telephone interviews were completed by a representative sample...

Unlabelled: Background This paper describes the methods and process of the Second Australian Study of Health and Relationships. Methods: A representative sample of the Australian population was contacted by landline and mobile phone modified random-digit dialling in 2012-13. Computer-assisted telephone interviews elicited sociodemographic and he...

Unlabelled: Background Attitudes towards sex and relationships influence laws about what is and is not permissible and social sanctions against behaviours considered unacceptable. They are an important focus for research given their links to sexual behaviour. The aim of the present study was to describe attitudes towards sex and relationships, to...

Unlabelled: Background Current information about numbers of other-sex partners, experiences of different heterosexual behaviours and the recent heterosexual experiences among a representative sample of Australian adults is needed. It is not known whether these practices have changed between 2001-02 and 2012-13. Methods: Computer-assisted telepho...

Unlabelled: Background Behavioural and other aspects of sexuality are not always consistent. This study describes the prevalence and overlap of same-sex and other-sex attraction and experience and of different sexual identities in Australia. Methods: Computer-assisted telephone interviews were completed by a representative sample of 20094 men an...

Unlabelled: Background This study describes the prevalence of (solo) masturbation, paying for sex and a range of other sexual practices among Australians. Methods: A representative sample of 20094 men and women aged 16-69 years (participation rate among eligible people, 66.2%) were recruited by landline and mobile phone random-digit dialling and...

Unlabelled: Background Current information about the characteristics of Australian adults' first vaginal intercourse and contraception or precautions used on that occasion is needed, as well as whether these characteristics have changed between 2001-02 and 2012-13. Methods: Computer-assisted telephone interviews were completed by a representativ...

Unlabelled: Background Sexually transmissible infections (STIs) present a substantial public health burden, and are related to modifiable sexual behaviours. Methods: Computer-assisted telephone interviews were completed by a population-representative sample of 20 094 men and women aged 16-69 years. The overall participation rate among eligible p...

Unlabelled: Background Concurrent relationships are a driver of generalised epidemics of sexually transmissible infections (STIs). In Australia, explicit negotiation of agreements about sex outside regular relationships has been recommended in health promotion for gay men but not for heterosexuals. Objective: To ascertain the annual incidence of...

Estimates of abortion rates in Australia suggest that substantial numbers of men are party to an unplanned pregnancy. Although men have no formal legal rights in the decision to terminate a pregnancy, they may be liable to pay child support. The purpose of this 2011 study was to glean young men’s perspectives on their role in unplanned pregnancy. I...

Introduction There is considerable public concern that new media (including the Internet and mobile phones) could be exposing young people to high levels of sexual content and may impact risky behaviour and/or risk for sexually transmissible infections. Methods The review was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines. Medline, EMBASE and P...

One hundred online sexual health forum pages were analyzed to identify sexual health concerns of young people. Pages collected from five popular forum Web sites posted in August 2011 were indexed, noting demographics, primary complaint, type of question and response, misconceptions of medical concepts, and general keywords. Gaps in knowledge were i...

Most infectious disease prevention campaigns assume that if given rational knowledge, people's behavior will change. This assumes that in developed countries people mostly accept biomedical notions of disease. This chapter explores the published literature on how lay people conceptualize disease and explain the occurrence of maladies. While most me...

This study presents data on the prevalence, incidence, and persistence/recurrence of 8 sexual difficulties among men. Participants were 3,157 Australian men who were administered 2 computer-assisted interviews approximately 12 months apart. Analyses were based on a weighted sample of 2,158 men who were 20-64 years of age, sexually active in the pas...

We report the prevalence of penile implants among prisoners and determine the independent predictors for having penile implants. Questions on penile implants were included in the Sexual Health and Attitudes of Australian Prisoners (SHAAP) survey following concerns raised by prison health staff that increasing numbers of prisoners reported having pe...

Objectives To determine if the provision of condoms to prisoners in two Australian state prison systems with different policies affects sexual behaviour. In New South Wales’ (NSW) prisons, condoms are freely distributed, while in Queensland prisons none are distributed. Methods We used a computer-assisted telephone interview to survey randomly sel...

This study examined whether sexual/relationship satisfaction are differentially associated with mental health issues. Using data from a population-based computer-assisted telephone survey, the authors included in this study 3,800 respondents who had a regular heterosexual partner. The authors used 2 methods of scoring the K6 to produce measures of...

Objective: To describe prisoners' sexual experiences and sexual practices while in the community, sexual identities, and sexual health (e.g. self-reported exposure to sexually transmissible infections (STIs) and female reproductive outcomes) using data from the Sexual Health and Attitudes of Australian Prisoners (SHAAP) survey. Methods: This stu...

Background: Organised abuse (where multiple adults conspire to sexually abuse multiple children) has been one of the most controversial issues in debates over mental health practice with survivors of child sexual abuse. Aims: The aim of this paper is to summarise and analyse the available prevalence data pertinent to organised abuse and to ident...

This article examines factors influencing English language education, participation and achievement among Karen refugee women in Australia. Data were drawn from ethnographic observations and interviews with 67 participants between 2009 and 2011, collected as part of a larger qualitative study exploring the well-being of Karen refugee women in Sydne...

This study presents data on the prevalence, incidence, and persistence/recurrence of 8 sexual difficulties among women. Australian women participated in 2 computer-assisted interviews approximately 12 months apart. Analyses were based on a weighted sample of 2,252 women who were 20-64 years of age, sexually active in the past 12 months, and in the...

This study investigated demographic predictors of consistency and change in heterosexual people's attitudes toward homosexual behavior. A nationally representative sample of Australian men and women were recruited via random digit dialling in 2004 through 2005. Participants completed annual computer-assisted telephone interviews over the next five...

Despite recent increases in the popularity of tattooing, little is known about the prevalence and characteristics of adults who have ever been tattooed. We investigated demographic and behavioral correlates of ever getting tattooed in an adult population. Computer-assisted telephone interviews were completed by a representative sample of 8656 men a...

Prison populations are made up of individuals from disadvantaged, often abusive backgrounds, who are more likely to suffer from psychological problems than the general community. This study aimed to determine associations between current psychological distress and history of having experienced sexual coercion and/or physical assault among prisoners...

The aims of this study were to clarify the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and sexual difficulties and to investigate if BMI influenced sexual satisfaction, over and above the effects of sexual difficulties. Cross-sectional analyses of a nationally representative computer-assisted telephone interview. Eight thousand, six hundred and fift...

Male prison rape and sexual assaults remains a serious and sensitive issue in many countries. Human rights groups claim that sexual assaults among male prisoners have reached pandemic proportions and need to be stopped. Researchers for many years have studied the causes of male sexual assault in prison and offered numerous recommendations on its pr...

National population surveys of attitudes towards sexual issues typically exclude prisoners and little is known about their attitudes compared with the community. Using computer-assisted telephone interviews, we compared a representative sample of 2289 prisoners (men=1960, women=329), aged 18-59 years, from two Australian states against a national c...

This study investigated the association between sexual practices and duration of a sexual encounter. Using data from a population-based computer-assisted telephone survey of 8,656 Australians aged 16 to 64 years, four distinct patterns of sexual practices among respondents were found: "basic sexual encounter" (involving mainly kissing, cuddling, st...

The World Health Organization (WHO) has identified a failure to provide education for vulnerable populations such as prisoners as a contributing factor to the epidemic of sexually transmissible infections (STIs). Despite this recognition, little is known about prisoners' level of knowledge of STIs compared with the general population. Using compute...

Not much is known about whether women who follow Pap testing recommendations report the same pattern of sexual behavior as women who do not. Data come from part of a larger population-based computer-assisted telephone survey of 8656 Australians aged 16-64 years resident in Australian households with a fixed telephone line (Australian Longitudinal S...

Little is known of the extent to which heterosexual couples are satisfied with their current frequency of sex and the degree to which this predicts overall sexual and relationship satisfaction. A population-based survey of 4,290 men and 4,366 women was conducted among Australians aged 16 to 64 years from a range of sociodemographic backgrounds, of...

Symptoms associated with ovarian cancer are often vague and non-specific, such as abdominal bloating and pain. Presently, nothing is known about the prevalence of these symptoms among women in the community. To identify the prevalence and correlates of symptoms associated with ovarian cancer in a nationally representative sample of Australian women...

Human papillomavirus (HPV) knowledge has rarely been investigated in the context of a national vaccination program. The present study investigated HPV knowledge after the introduction of a national HPV vaccination program in Australia using a national sample of men and women. Questions assessing HPV knowledge were part of a broader national study o...

Estimates of the incidence of sexual coercion in men's prisons are notoriously variable and fraught with conceptual and methodological problems. In 2006-2007, we conducted a computer-assisted telephone survey of a random sample of 2,018 male prisoners in New South Wales and Queensland. Of 2,626 eligible and available inmates, 76.8% consented and pr...