Safer sex at holiday centres: providing contraceptive services to seasonalworkers

Many seasonal workers experience an increase in sexual activity whilst empl oyed at a holiday centre. Evidence of sexual risk-taking while at a holiday centre has important social and health services in areas which experience an annual influx of seasonal workers. This research investigates the contra ceptive behaviour of seasonal workers and focuses on their access to contra ception and sexual health services. In-depth interviews were conducted with seasonal workers at holiday centres along the south coast of England. Resp ondents were interviewed at the end of the season. This longitudinal method ology enabled changes in contraceptive behaviour to be identified as well a s the strategies for seeking contraception and sexual health services throu ghout the season. The results of this study show that there are a range of different motivations which influence seasonal workers 'use of contraceptio n and sexual risk-taking while at a holiday centre. Categories of contracep tive protection are developed to assist purchasers and providers to identif y the variety of sexual health needs of workers at holiday centres and dete rmined the most effective strategies for delivering contraceptive and sexua l health services to these workers. The paper describes the motivations whi ch influence contraceptive use and sexual risk-taking amongst seasonal work ers, identifies the contraceptive and sexual health needs of these workers, and discusses the difficulties workers 'experienced in meeting these needs while at a holiday centre.