Engaging with discomfort when learning sexual and reproductive health and rights. A qualitative content analysis of public health students' experiences of active learning in an international master's level course
Palm, Camilla LU ; Båge, Karin LU ; Hillman, Magnus LU
; Pavlidou, Argyro
and Herder, Tobias
LU
(2026)
In BMC Public Health
26(1).
p.1-12
- Abstract
BACKGROUND: Within most academic sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) curricula, topics considered sensitive within the broader social context are frequently addressed. To gain a better understanding of how active learning can be promoted in education about potentially sensitive topics, this study aimed to explore the experiences of active learning among an international student cohort attending a master's level course in SRHR.
METHOD: This qualitative study draws from 11 in-depth interviews with students previously enrolled in a master's level course in SRHR at the Faculty of Medicine, Lund University, Sweden. Interviews were analyzed using qualitative content analysis.
RESULTS: The analysis resulted in two... (More)
BACKGROUND: Within most academic sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) curricula, topics considered sensitive within the broader social context are frequently addressed. To gain a better understanding of how active learning can be promoted in education about potentially sensitive topics, this study aimed to explore the experiences of active learning among an international student cohort attending a master's level course in SRHR.
METHOD: This qualitative study draws from 11 in-depth interviews with students previously enrolled in a master's level course in SRHR at the Faculty of Medicine, Lund University, Sweden. Interviews were analyzed using qualitative content analysis.
RESULTS: The analysis resulted in two sub-themes; Co-creating a safe environment for active learning in SRHR and Managing challenges and catching opportunities for active learning in SRHR, and one overarching theme; Considering self and others when engaging with uncomfortable dimensions of learning SRHR.
CONCLUSION: The findings indicate that discomfort has the potential to be productive for active learning. However, this necessitates that the learning environment is intentionally curated by both facilitators and students into a learning space characterized by trust.
(Less)
- author
- Palm, Camilla
LU
; Båge, Karin
LU
; Hillman, Magnus
LU
; Pavlidou, Argyro
and Herder, Tobias
LU
- organization
- publishing date
- 2026-09-29
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- Humans, Qualitative Research, Problem-Based Learning, Sweden, Reproductive Health/education, Interviews as Topic, Female, Students, Public Health/psychology, Reproductive Rights/education, Male, Sexual Health/education, Education, Graduate, Curriculum, Academia
- in
- BMC Public Health
- volume
- 26
- issue
- 1
- article number
- 2702
- pages
- 1 - 12
- publisher
- BioMed Central (BMC)
- external identifiers
-
- pmid:42811310
- ISSN
- 1471-2458
- DOI
- 10.1186/s12889-026-29680-4
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- additional info
- © 2026. The Author(s).
- id
- 73d6177e-8c95-4ed6-9888-5205b40acfc4
- date added to LUP
- 2026-09-30 13:42:35
- date last changed
- 2026-09-30 13:49:51
@article{73d6177e-8c95-4ed6-9888-5205b40acfc4,
abstract = {{<p>BACKGROUND: Within most academic sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) curricula, topics considered sensitive within the broader social context are frequently addressed. To gain a better understanding of how active learning can be promoted in education about potentially sensitive topics, this study aimed to explore the experiences of active learning among an international student cohort attending a master's level course in SRHR.</p><p>METHOD: This qualitative study draws from 11 in-depth interviews with students previously enrolled in a master's level course in SRHR at the Faculty of Medicine, Lund University, Sweden. Interviews were analyzed using qualitative content analysis.</p><p>RESULTS: The analysis resulted in two sub-themes; Co-creating a safe environment for active learning in SRHR and Managing challenges and catching opportunities for active learning in SRHR, and one overarching theme; Considering self and others when engaging with uncomfortable dimensions of learning SRHR.</p><p>CONCLUSION: The findings indicate that discomfort has the potential to be productive for active learning. However, this necessitates that the learning environment is intentionally curated by both facilitators and students into a learning space characterized by trust.</p>}},
author = {{Palm, Camilla and Båge, Karin and Hillman, Magnus and Pavlidou, Argyro and Herder, Tobias}},
issn = {{1471-2458}},
keywords = {{Humans; Qualitative Research; Problem-Based Learning; Sweden; Reproductive Health/education; Interviews as Topic; Female; Students, Public Health/psychology; Reproductive Rights/education; Male; Sexual Health/education; Education, Graduate; Curriculum; Academia}},
language = {{eng}},
month = {{09}},
number = {{1}},
pages = {{1--12}},
publisher = {{BioMed Central (BMC)}},
series = {{BMC Public Health}},
title = {{Engaging with discomfort when learning sexual and reproductive health and rights. A qualitative content analysis of public health students' experiences of active learning in an international master's level course}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12889-026-29680-4}},
doi = {{10.1186/s12889-026-29680-4}},
volume = {{26}},
year = {{2026}},
}