Access to Women’s Services, Including Sexual Health and Wellbeing Services, for Women Aged 40–65 Years: The Views of Providers of Care

Objective: Women aged 40–65 years, who undergo predictable and important physiological transitions, feel that access in England to Women’s Health and Wellbeing Services (WHWS) is poor and inequitable. The barriers and enablers to WHWS, focusing on sexual health and sexual wellbeing services, for women aged 40–65 years, and feasible suggestions for development, were explored from the perspective of 11 providers of health and social care. Design: A qualitative study, using semi-structured interviews, was conducted with providers of WHWS. Framework Analysis, applying the Socio-ecological Model (SEM), through an intersectionality lens, was employed to analyse the findings. The study was reported according to the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research (COREQ). Setting and Participants: Eleven providers of care were recruited by convenience sampling from health and wellbeing settings serving the most under-resourced areas in South-East England. Results: The intersectional disadvantage of belonging to underserved groups overlapped across the constructs of the SEM. The main themes that emerged were the lack of prioritisation of midlife women within society, and the inadequate knowledge about the health and well-being requirements, including the sexual health and sexual well-being requirements, of midlife women. Conclusion: Amongst policy makers, the sensitive, complex, and interlinked nature of health and wellbeing, including sexual health and sexual wellbeing, of midlife women must be recognised. Investment in public and Health Care Professionals’ education, together with a life-course approach to health research and policy, is required to destigmatise and improve access to WHWS for midlife women.