The purpose of this study was to collect information about the promotion of the child's sexual health as experienced by public health nurses working in the child health centers in the City of Rovaniemi. At the same time it was clarified what kind of challenges and development proposals the public health nurses had in connection with the promotion of the child’s sexual health. The goal of the study was to get new information about the realization of the promotion of the child's sexual health from the public health nurses' point of view. The reseach data was collected by conducting focus group interview among five public health nurses. The data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis.

In the opinion of public health nurses who have participated in the study, the promotion of the child's sexual health is an important and natural part of their work. According to the research results, an essential part of the public health nurse's work is to support parents in safe and child’s needs -based parenting and care for example by giving guidance about protection skills and toilet train-ing. The public health nurse especially supports the early interaction between a child and a parent. Furthermore, it is important that public health nurse ex-presses that talking about sexuality is normal and acceptable. As a conclusion, the public health nurse's main role in the promotion of the child's sexual health is to support the parents.

Public health nurses’ thought that the challenges were brought to the work by the culture differences. In their opinion the different children and the changed family idea also made the work more challenging. The public health nurses hoped time to the working hours for self-studying and time for groupmeetings with coworkers so they could discuss about important things. Also education was hoped especially about the challenging matters.