Social Determinants of Reproductive Age Women's Sexual Health: A Scoping Review

Abstract

Background: Evidence, especially in the last two decades, indicates the effect of social factors on health. Social determinants of health (SDH) are the environmental conditions in which people are born, live, grow, educate, work, and age. Objectives: Hence, this study intended to identify the SDH of the reproductive age women's sexual health dimensions. Methods: To conduct this scoping review, the researchers searched the databases, including PubMed, Medline, ProQuest, Cochrane Library, Web of Sciences, Scientific Information Database (SID), and Magiran, disregarding language limit. They searched the original observational articles (cohort, cross-sectional, case-control) on social determinants of reproductive age women's sexual health, assessing at least one social determinant of health for sexual health between January 2010 and January 2023. Results: A total of 4704 articles were extracted in the initial review; however, 30 entered the scoping review. The results revealed that the social determinants of reproductive age women's sexual health in different societies are socioeconomic status (socio-economic constraints, economic gradient, poverty, lack of food at home, homelessness, low prospects, and poor educational and job outlook), personal determinants (age, gender, religious affiliation, marital status, education level, employment/unemployment status, economic status, age at the first sex, age over 40, dissatisfaction with the sexual potency of the spouse, high body mass index, partners' sexual education, sexual intimacy, relationship duration, frequent contact with a given partner, perceived social support, and perceived safe sex norms), social support (social networks of peers, friends, and family, emotional support and strong attachments to families), neighborhood, violence, addiction, migration, stress, early life experiences, and education that can affect different sexual health dimensions. The sexual health dimensions encompass sexual function, sexual satisfaction, risky sexual behaviors, receiving sexual health services, condom use, and forced sexual behavior. Conclusions: Considering each person's conditions and needs, health policymakers and health services providers should evaluate the various dimensions of the SDH to promote women's sexual health. Moreover, they should plan and implement the required strategies to eliminate the identified obstacles.