
Some 72% of young people in Austria would like to learn more about sexual and reproductive health, according to a report published by the Ministry of Health on Monday.
The Gender Health Report builds on the 2022 Women’s Health Report and calls for comprehensive sex education for all age groups. Commenting on the findings, Health Minister Johannes Rauch said there is a need for sexual education to be accessible “at every age.”
Longstanding Issues
The report, compiled by Gesundheit Österreich GmbH (GÖG), highlights that societal structures and a historically shaped healthcare system have left sexual and reproductive health largely overlooked. It also examines the social, cultural and socio-economic factors that impact this area of health.
“Sexual and reproductive health affects everyone at every stage of life. Each group has different needs depending on gender, social status, education, occupation, and background,” Rauch explained.
Sylvia Gaiswinkler, the study’s author, described the report as laying the groundwork for future strategies. “A key finding of this report, and simultaneously a strategic recommendation, is the need to establish a coherent approach to how sexual health can be comprehensively and reliably integrated into and beyond the healthcare system in the future,” she said.
Training for Healthcare Workers
In response to the findings, the ministry has developed an e-learning tool aimed at training healthcare professionals to engage sensitively with gender-diverse individuals.
“As an initial step, we have developed an extensive e-learning tool to train healthcare professionals in handling gender-diverse individuals sensitively,” Rauch said.
However, the report points out that Austria currently lacks a unified approach to addressing sexual and reproductive health in health promotion, prevention and care. Access to information and counselling also varies significantly across regions.