Are sexual and reproductive health issues relevant to the social work profession? A study of MSW students

Social workers work with vulnerable clients, many of whom are at risk for unplanned pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections (STIs).  Thus, it is important that social work students view sexual and reproductive health as relevant to their training and practice.

Data were analyzed from a study of MSW students across the United States (N = 442) to better understand students’ experiences with field-based education regarding sexual and reproductive health, and the implications of such training.  The majority of the sample identified as female (86%, n = 381), heterosexual (83%, n =365), and White (81%, n = 359). 

Receiving training on STIs during field placements or in practice experiences was regressed on participant perceptions of sexual health and reproductive health as relevant to social work, while controlling for age, sex, political affiliation, geographic region, and type of university.  Holding all other variables constant, receiving training on STIs was significantly related to MSW students’ perceptions of issues of sexual health as relevant to social work (β = -.11, p < .001), and students’ perceptions of the relevance of reproductive health issues to social work (β = -.17, p < .001).

Given the marginalized populations with which social workers often engage in practice, often-sensitive issues of sexual and reproductive health are inevitably encountered. A large majority of the sample (90.5%) reported “never” or “rarely” receiving training on STIs, and as such, there is an onus on public health practitioners to advance social workers’ perceptions of the importance of sexual and reproductive health training.