Sexual and Reproductive Health Awareness Day: Putting Equity, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion at the Heart of Care
Sexual and Reproductive Health Awareness Day
Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) is fundamental to our overall health, wellbeing and autonomy. Yet access to high quality, respectful and timely SRH services is not experienced equally by everyone. On Sexual and Reproductive Health Awareness Day, it’s vital that we shine a light not only on the importance of SRH, but on the inequalities that continue to shape people’s experiences – and what we can do to address them.
At the London Sexual Health Programme, equity, equality, diversity and inclusion (EEDI) are not add‑ons to our work; they are central to how we design, commission and improve services for Londoners.
Inequality in sexual and reproductive health
Health inequalities in SRH are stark and persistent. Outcomes are influenced by a range of factors including ethnicity, gender, disability, sexual orientation, migration status, socioeconomic position and geography. These inequalities can show up as:
Later diagnoses of HIV and other STIs among some ethnic minority communities
Barriers to accessing contraception and abortion care for disabled people
Poorer sexual health outcomes for people experiencing homelessness or insecure housing
Stigma and discrimination faced by LGBTQ+ communities when accessing care
Language, cultural and legal barriers for migrants and people with no recourse to public funds
These are not individual failings – they are systemic issues rooted in wider social and structural inequalities. Tackling them requires intentional, sustained action.
Why an EEDI approach matters
An EEDI approach asks us to go beyond providing the same service to everyone, and instead to recognise that different communities have different needs, experiences and barriers. Equity is about fairness, not uniformity.
Embedding EEDI in SRH means:
Listening to lived experience and involving communities in shaping services
Designing services that are accessible by default, including physical access, digital inclusion and inclusive communication
Challenging stigma and discrimination, both within healthcare settings and in wider society
Using data intelligently to identify inequalities and measure whether interventions are making a difference
Supporting the workforce with the skills, confidence and cultural competence to deliver inclusive care
Our commitment at LSHP
Across London, the LSHP works with partners to improve sexual health outcomes while reducing inequalities. This includes:
Commissioning services that prioritise populations disproportionately affected by poor SRH outcomes
Supporting targeted outreach and prevention work alongside universal provision
Embedding EEDI principles into strategy, governance and programme delivery
Working collaboratively with local authorities, the NHS, voluntary and community sector organisations, and people with lived experience
We know that progress requires partnership, transparency and accountability – and a willingness to learn and adapt.
Looking ahead
On Sexual and Reproductive Health Awareness Day, we reaffirm our commitment to an SRH system that works for everyone. Equity in sexual and reproductive health is not optional – it is essential.
By keeping EEDI at the heart of our work, we can move closer to a future where everyone in London can access the care, information and support they need to make informed choices about their sexual and reproductive health, free from stigma, discrimination or avoidable barriers.
Donnarie Goldson, EEDI Lead at the London Sexual Health Programme says “Equity in sexual and reproductive health means recognising that people don’t all start from the same place. If we want fair outcomes, we have to design services that actively remove barriers, challenge stigma and reflect the lived realities of London’s diverse communities.”