ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: Adolescents and young adults are a diverse group with varied health needs. In Sweden, youth clinics are critical for improving their sexual, reproductive, mental, and general health. The aim of this qualitative study was to gain a deeper understanding of key conditions needed for youth friendliness, and to better understand youth-friendly health services from the perspective of adolescents and young adults in northern Sweden. METHODS: Information was collected through focus group discussions and interviews with 23 adolescents and young adults (aged 16 to 25) at youth clinics in each of the four northernmost regions of Sweden. Interviews were analysed inductively using Braun and Clarke's thematic analysis. RESULTS: Three themes and six sub-themes emerged. A safe, empowering and holistic space, outlines how youth-friendly physical spaces and staff contributed to a sense of safety in contrast to other healthcare facilities. The theme Youth clinics are accessible - but reaching out is challenging, refers to low thresholds for visiting youth clinics and perceived barriers to access. The third theme "You feel a bit vulnerable" - the importance of privacy, highlights privacy dimensions and young people's vulnerability when their privacy is compromised. CONCLUSION: Adolescents and young adults perceived youth clinics as being youth-friendly. Key conditions for youth friendliness were safety, respect, a holistic and empowering approach, accessibility, and privacy. Youth-friendly opening hours and outreach to specifically target groups with access barriers are needed. Young people should be involved in the development of equitable youth-friendly health services.
Subject(s)
Adolescent Health Services , Adolescent , Focus Groups , Health Services , Health Services Accessibility , Humans , Sweden , Young AdultABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Including forage legumes in dairy systems can help address increasing environmental/economic concerns about perennial ryegrass monoculture pastures. This work investigated the effect of substituting fresh-cut grass with increasing quantities of fresh-cut white clover (WC) on milk fatty acid (FA) profile and transfer efficiency of dietary linoleic (LA) and α-linolenic (ALNA) acids to milk fat. Three groups of three crossbred dairy cows were used in a 3 × 3 crossover design. Dietary treatments were 0 g kg-1 WC + 600 g kg-1 grass, 200 g kg-1 WC + 400 g kg-1 grass, and 400 g kg-1 WC + 200 g kg-1 grass. All treatments were supplemented with 400 g kg-1 concentrates on a dry matter basis. Cows had a 19-day adaptation period to the experimental diet before a 6-day measurement period in individual tie stalls. RESULTS: Increasing dietary WC did not affect dry matter intake, milk yield or milk concentrations of fat, protein or lactose. Milk polyunsaturated FA concentrations (total n-3, total n-6, LA and ALNA) and transfer efficiency of LA and ALNA were increased with increasing dietary WC supply. CONCLUSION: Inclusion of WC in pastures may increase concentrations of nutritionally beneficial FA, without influencing milk yield and basic composition, but any implications on human health cannot be drawn. © 2018 The Authors. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture published by JohnWiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.