He mana tō te mātauranga - knowledge is power: a qualitative study of sexual and reproductive healthcare experiences of wāhine Māori

Introduction Sexual and reproductive health (SRH) is important for well-being, yet Indigenous peoples, including M & amacr;ori, have poorer SRH outcomes than non-Indigenous peoples. Healthcare providers (HCPs) play a critical role in enhancing patients' health literacy, directly impacting health outcomes by providing clear, accessible information and guidance. Therefore, it is important to explore the experiences that w & amacr;hine M & amacr;ori (M & amacr;ori women) have when interacting with HCPs and how they learn about SRH. Such research could guide interventions to improve dissemination of SRH knowledge to M & amacr;ori.Aim This study aimed to explore the experiences w & amacr;hine M & amacr;ori have of sexual health care and accessing SRH knowledge.Methods W & amacr;hine were interviewed in this Kaupapa M & amacr;ori study. Interviews were transcribed and coded, and thematic analysis was performed.Results Twelve w & amacr;hine were interviewed. An overarching theme, He mana t & omacr; te m & amacr;tauranga (knowledge is power), was identified. There were four subthemes: being informed about contraceptive options is empowering, informed consent is important, high-stress situations call for better communication and improved dissemination of SRH knowledge is needed. The w & amacr;hine valued being well-informed about their health and options, however, their experiences of receiving information varied.Discussion W & amacr;hine M & amacr;ori want to be told more about their health and options when encountering HCPs regarding SRH. Being informed is empowering, while feeling uninformed results in a breakdown in trust in the healthcare system and inability to exercise mana motuhake (autonomy). Facilitating improved dissemination of knowledge about SRH may help improve SRH outcomes for M & amacr;ori by supporting health literacy, so that M & amacr;ori can make informed decisions about their health.