The discursive construction of low-risk to sexually transmitted diseases between women who are sexually active with women

This paper uses discursive analytical method to explore dominant discourses concerning the sexual health of women who have sex with women. In-depth interviews were conducted with a cross-cultural sample of women from England and Brazil. Sex between women was discursively constructed as ‘safe’ and women who have sex with women were seen as being at low to negligible risk of contracting/transmitting sexually transmitted infections. Analysis identified two discourses underlying these constructions: a binaries discourse which focused on dichotomies of gender, sexuality and risk; and a sexual double-standard discourse, which focused on the positioning of sex between women as safe and the use of barrier methods of protection as indicative of not engaging or fully enjoying the sexual act

A qualitative study to understand patients\u27 experiences of foot pain and surgical consultation for hallux valgus and/or hallux rigidus

The foot is one of the most complex musculoskeletal systems in the body, playing a pivotal role in gait and posture. Epidemiological studies indicate that a high prevalence of foot problems is associated with a greater burden of pain, disability and decreased health-related quality of life. Disabling foot pain is likely to be multifactorial in origin, however to date there is limited evidence of the psychosocial impact of forefoot problems, as such the associated burden is unknown. The study was qualitative with the use of semi-structured interviews to explore patients\u27 experiences of their foot problem and of undergoing surgical consultation and/or intervention for hallux valgus and/or hallux rigidus. Sixteen patients participated: 14 females and 2 males; mean age of 61 years, SD 7.23 from a National Health Service secondary care hospital within an orthopaedic department, who required surgery for hallux valgus and/or hallux rigidus. Thematic analysis generated three themes; \u27the impact of pain\u27, \u27the decision-making process\u27 and \u27body image, the self and identity\u27. Forefoot problems present many issues for patients and impact on their physical, social and psychological health. Forefoot problems are multifactorial and patients should be supported using a biopsychosocial approach