Sexual Issues Research Articles

Proof of concept of a sexual health outreach program led by community health workers in homeless hostels in the greater Paris region.

Homeless individuals face exacerbated risks of infectious diseases, including sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Programs led by Community Health Workers (CHWs) have demonstrated potential to enhance healthcare access for marginalized groups such as homeless families. This study aims to evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of a novel CHW-based outreach program addressing sexual health issues among individuals residing in homeless hostels. Twelve social homeless hostels in the greater Paris region were selected as program implementation sites. An outreach program was developed consisting of two interventions: sexual health workshops and STI screening sessions (HIV and hepatitis B and C) accompanied by individual interviews, both conducted by CHWs within each hostel over an 8-week period and scheduled weekly. Feasibility, participation and engagement were evaluated using complementary methods including qualitative field observations, semi-structured interviews and focus groups with CHWs, satisfaction questionnaires for participants, and quantitative outcome data collection of each intervention. A total of 80 program activities (workshops and screening sessions) were conducted. Among the participants, 542 women and 30 men engaged in workshops. During the 30 Rapid Diagnostic Testing sessions, 150 individuals underwent testing for HIV, hepatitis B, and/or hepatitis C. Positivity rates were 6.7% for hepatitis B and 0.9% for hepatitis C. No HIV infections were detected. Participant satisfaction rates were consistently high (>76%) across workshops. Qualitative analysis unveiled two critical axes influencing program feasibility and effectiveness: program organization and CHW involvement. This assessment of the program highlights its feasibility among a population that is difficult to reach through conventional healthcare efforts. The intervention's potential effectiveness is suggested by self- and CHW-reported improvements in sexual health literacy and high rates of referral to the healthcare system, as well as holistic well-being considerations. CHW involvement is a vital determinant of program success, as are robust coordination among stakeholders, deep understanding of the target population, and strong partner engagement. This outreach program amplifies the voices of often-overlooked populations while empowering them to navigate health and social challenges. Although these workshops serve as lifelines for those frequently excluded from mainstream services, long-term improvements to the health and wellbeing of homeless populations will necessitate systemic governmental intervention.

Sexual and reproductive health services in New Zealand primary care settings: A mixed-methods survey.

New Zealand's recently released Women's Health Strategy aims to provide accessible, equitable care which prioritises prevention, early intervention and areas of unmet need. An example of such care is the management of common sexual and reproductive health (SRH) issues by appropriately trained primary care practitioners in the community. The aim was to identify primary care SRH program initiatives currently operating in New Zealand, how they are accessed and funded, whether they have been co-designed using mātauranga (knowledge) Māori principles and whether any have undergone formal evaluation. A mixed-methods electronic anonymous survey of primary care practitioners and secondary care obstetrics and gynaecology clinical directors was distributed in April 2023. Qualitative analysis of free text answers was undertaken. Few funded SRH services are available in community settings in New Zealand. Access and eligibility criteria to those which exist varies by region. A lack of co-design and governance was reported, along with difficulties in access to skills training and specialist advice. The current SRH landscape in New Zealand appears fragmented and lacks an overarching strategic focus. To achieve the aims of the Women's Health Strategy, a suite of core community-based SRH programs should be developed and formally evaluated, focusing on equitable access, integration and specific outcomes. These should be co-designed using mātaurangi Māori principles.

Unicorns, rainbows, and unicorn magic: Storying new knowledge of black masculinities within the WWE

This paper examines the story arc of a trio of Black male wrestlers called the New Day within the World Wrestling Entertainment industry (WWE) who go from militant nationalists, stereotypical singing/dancing preachers, and finally to self-described unicorns bringing magic back to the WWE. Wrestling is used to explore anti-Blackness, Black masculinity, and conceptions of the human/humanity. Drawing on Katherine McKittrick's Black methodological intervention of textual accumulation to interrogate issues of race, masculinity, and sexuality within their performances, I argue the group's unique position as wrestlers allows us to conceptualize the trio as “writers” of fiction; a position that when read through Kevin Young's concept of storying provides insight into a Black creative practice engaging in alternative worldmaking and rewriting understandings of the human outside of a Western European framework. I advocate that the stories of the New Day not only provide glimpses into new genres of being human, but also forms of Black manhood(s) outside of a patriarchal framework.

Development and implementation of sexual and gender minority curriculum for advanced practice nursing: A feasibility study.

To explore the feasibility of development and implementation of an educational intervention addressing sexual and gender minority healthcare issues; examine recruitment processes and instrument appropriateness. Non-randomized feasibility study. The educational intervention was developed and implemented in family nurse practitioner courses with data collection from August through December 2022. Clinical preparedness, attitudinal awareness and basic knowledge were measured using the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Development of Clinical Skills Scale. Development and implementation of the intervention was feasible but will require amendment before progressing to the pilot study. Clinical preparedness and basic knowledge increased post-intervention, but attitudinal awareness did not improve. Recruitment did not achieve the desired sample size. Instrument internal consistency reliability was confirmed. Feasibility was established but will require amendment prior to the pilot study. To prepare nurses and nurse practitioners to care for sexual and gender minority patients. This study addressed the feasibility of developing and implementing a sexual and gender minority healthcare education using an e-Learning platform. Findings confirm that the intervention was feasible but will require amendment. The intervention increased knowledge and clinical preparedness in caring for this population, but recruitment was challenging. This research will impact nurses, nurse practitioners and nurse educators. The authors adhered to the relevant EQUATOR guidelines. The Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials guideline extension for reporting randomized and feasibility guidelines were used. Sexual and gender minority community members contributed to the intervention development. WHAT DOES THIS PAPER CONTRIBUTE TO THE WIDER GLOBAL CLINICAL COMMUNITY?: The feasibility of using interactive e-learning educational resources to provide sexual and gender minority healthcare curriculum. Evidence to support the use of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Development of Clinical Skills Scale to measure learning outcomes. This study was not prospectively registered because it was an educational intervention involving graduate student nurses and did not assess clinical outcomes of patients.

The Economy of Whiteness: Make-Up and Female Sexuality in Transactional Modern Love in Uno Chiyo’s Early Works

ABSTRACT This article analyzes female make-up and modern consumerism in Uno Chiyo’s early short stories Shifun no kao (‘Painted face’, 1921) and Rōjo Manon (‘The old woman Manon’, 1928). These works were published as the notion of beauty transitioned in Japan’s modern era, shifting from a preference for heavy to light make-up. The obsession with whiteness of the female protagonists, as well as unique motifs in Uno’s short stories, suggests racial and sexual issues in modernity. Despite the common perception of their cosmopolitanism, this article argues that the modern girls described in Uno’s works tend to internalize the ethnic and cultural hierarchy between Caucasian men and Japanese women, denigrating and othering non-Western people, including the Japanese whose bodies do not successfully represent Westernization or modernity. In a similar vein, Uno portrays the failure of female make-up as the attempt to emulate an artificial Western beauty, thereby illustrating the challenges faced by female authors describing Japanese female characters in the modern era.

Efficacy of psychosocial interventions to reduce affective symptoms in sexual and gender minorities: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer/questioning (LGBTQ) individuals are more likely than cisgender heterosexuals to experience mental, physical, and sexual health issues. A promising contemporary strategy to address the issue of affective symptoms in sexual and gender minorities (SGM) is psychosocial intervention. To systematically evaluate the effect of psychosocial interventions on the improvement of affective symptoms in SGM, and to provide a reference for the implementation of effective psychological interventions for SGM with affective symptoms. Between the date of database construction until December 10, 2022, a computerized search of the English-language literature published both nationally and worldwide was done. 8 literature databases and 3 additional gray databases were searched. We gathered randomized controlled trials that used psychological interventions for SGM. To evaluate risk bias in included papers in accordance with Cochrane cooperation criteria, we used Review Manager 5.4 software. In conjunction with post-test and follow-up data, mean differences were standardized using Stata 12.0 software. Subgroup analysis was used to investigate the cause of heterogeneity. The study was conducted strictly in accordance with PRISMA guidelines, and it was registered on the PROSPERO platform (CRD42023408610). This review covered 18 research, and 14 studies were included in the meta-analysis. A total of 1194 study cases, including 706 cases from the control group and 488 cases from the experimental group, were included in these investigations. Compared to the control group, the psychosocial intervention group had significantly lower levels of depression (standardized mean difference (SMD) = -0.17;95% CI = [-0.30, -0.04]; p = 0.012) and anxiety (SMD = -0.22; 95% CI = [-0.41, -0.04]; p = 0.01), but no significant differences were found for distress (SMD = -0.19; 95% CI = [-0.45,0.07]; p = 0.021). According to this study, psychosocial interventions helped lessen the symptoms of depression and anxietyin SGM but had no significant effect on their psychological distress. To assess the impact of psychological intervention on SGM, more randomized controlled trials with larger sample sizes and numerous follow-up times should be done.

Knowledge of reproductive rights and associated factors among Oda Bultum University students, eastern Ethiopia.

Reproductive rights are an essential element of public health interventions to reduce adolescent and youth mortality and morbidity. A lack of knowledge about sexual and reproductive health is an important barrier that contributes to a variety of health and social issues. This study assessed the knowledge of reproductive rights among Oda Bultum University students, eastern Ethiopia. An institution-based cross-sectional study was carried out among 727 students from December 1 to 30, 2020. Participants were selected using a multistage sampling technique. Data were collected using a self-administered, pre-tested, and structured questionnaire. Data were entered into EpiData version 4.1 and analyzed using SPSS version 27. The study employed both bivariable and multivariable logistic regression analysis to determine the variables associated with knowledge regarding reproductive rights. The significance and degree of strength were declared at a p-value < 0.05 using an adjusted odds ratio with a 95% confidence interval. The overall knowledge of reproductive rights among university students was 47.2% (95% CI: 43.3%, 50.9%). Male gender (AOR = 2.11, 95% CI: 1.50, 2.97), urban residence (AOR = 1.62, 95% CI: 1.16, 2.28), formal maternal education (AOR = 2.26, 95% CI: 1.62, 3.17), participation in a sexual and reproductive health club (AOR = 2.67, 95% CI: 1.74, 4.10), utilization of sexual and reproductive health services (AOR = 6.29, 95% CI: 4.22, 9.36), and discussion about sexual and reproductive health issues (AOR = 1.60, 95% CI: 1.11, 2.30) were the factors that improved the knowledge of reproductive rights. Almost half of the university students know about reproductive rights. Various factors identified were associated with the knowledge of reproductive rights among university students, including gender, residence, parental education level, engagement in sexual and reproductive health clubs, utilization of sexual and reproductive health services, and discussions about sexual and reproductive issues. Healthcare professionals at all levels should concentrate on offering excellent services related to reproductive health and establishing programs for specific education and counseling on reproductive rights for all well-behaved students.

Willingness to take human papillomavirus vaccine and its associated factors among school adolescent girls: A case of school-based dose one human papillomavirus vaccine campaign in Dire Dawa, Ethiopia.

This study aimed to evaluate the willingness of human papillomavirus vaccine and its associated factors in Dire Dawa in 2022. Ethiopia is undergoing human papillomavirus vaccine implementation in the country with the support of the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization. However, there is a scarcity of data on problems encountered and the receiver's acceptance of the vaccine. An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 634 female adolescents from 1 April to 1 May 2022. A simple random sampling technique was used to select study participants. Pretested structured self-administered questionnaires were used to collect data. Data were entered into EPI-data 3.1 and exported to Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 23.00 software for analysis. Descriptive analysis was conducted to summarize data with text, tables, and figures. A binary logistic regression model was fitted to identify factors associated with the willingness of the human papillomavirus vaccine. Adjusted odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals and p-values less than 0.05 were used to determine the association between independent and dependent variables. Hosmer and Lemeshow test was used to determine model fitness. The magnitude of human papillomavirus vaccine willingness among adolescent girls was 56% with 95% CI (52.1%-59.9%). Discussion on sexual and reproductive health issues (AOR = 7.67, 95% CI: 3.82, 15.42), adolescent girls who were received permission from their family to take human papillomavirus vaccine (AOR = 4.49, 95% CI: 2.40, 8.43), adolescent girls who had good knowledge on human papillomavirus vaccine (AOR = 5.78, 95% CI: 3.18, 10.15), and adolescent girls who had favorable attitude toward human papillomavirus vaccine (AOR = 3.06, 95% CI: 1.73, 5.43) were positively associated with willingness to take human papillomavirus vaccine. Knowledge about cervical cancer and the human papillomavirus vaccine as well as willingness to take the human papillomavirus vaccine was low. Factors such as maternal education, adolescents' discussion on sexual and reproductive health issues, parent approval of human papillomavirus vaccine, and knowledge and attitude toward human papillomavirus vaccine were significantly associated with willingness to take the human papillomavirus vaccine. Therefore, public health education regarding cervical cancer and human papillomavirus vaccination is still needed and has to be targeted at not only respondents but also their families.

Care Seeking Behavior and Social Support for Sexual and Reproductive Health Needs of Adolescents in Ibadan, Nigeria.

Background: The importance of caring and meaningful relationships, as well as social connections with individuals and social institutions cannot be overlooked in addressing the sexual and reproductive health issues(SRH) of adolescents. This is a descriptive cross-sectional study to assess care seeking behaviour and social supports for adolescents’ sexual and reproductive health issues. Their ability to be able to seek and find help from formal or informal sources of social support is a protective factor for adolescent health, development and overall satisfaction in life. Materials and Methods: The study populations were in and out of schools adolescents between the ages of 10 and 19, from selected secondary schools and community in Ibadan North Local Government Area (IBNLGA) of Oyo State, Nigeria, who gave their consent voluntarily to participate in the study. Results: Findings from this research work revealed that the sources of social support available for adolescent sexual and reproductive health in this study were supports from family, friends, school teachers and religious leaders. Majority of the respondents have high perception of support for SRH issues from family, friends, school teacher and religious leader. In conclusion, adolescents in this study rely more on their family for supports than other sources because of their availability, accessibility it is necessary to offer relevant information on sexual and reproductive health of adolescents to family as social support as well as other social supports outside of professional care-giving settings, to best promote the prevention and treatment of SRH problems among Nigerian adolescents. Also, future interventions by Adolescent health care providers on sexual and reproductive health of adolescents, should integrate all of the sources of social support and media to deliver evidence based health interventions.

Effectiveness of E-learning on "Sexual Health" among students of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences based on the Kirkpatrick model.

Implementing educational programs such as E-learning is highly low-cost and highly effective. The aim was to design and implement a sexual health education program to enhance female students' knowledge based on the Kirkpatrick model. This study was a quasi-experimental intervention study conducted on 60 female students of the Medical Ethics course at Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences based on the Kirkpatrick model. After needs assessment and determining the course syllabus, the teaching content was produced electronically and made available to the research population after scientific (Women's Group) and technical (E-Learning Group) approval. Data analysis was performed based on Mann-Whitney U test and independent t-test through SPSS version 26. The mean (standard deviation) scores of the Kirkpatrick level 2 measurement (learning) of the participants increased from 15.34 (4.89) before the intervention to 16.88 (5.20) after intervention (P < 0.001), which was statistically significant. The participants' satisfaction rate with the educational content was 86%, with the course duration was 94.4%, with the educational facilities and equipment was 85.4%, and with the presentation method and attractiveness of the materials was 86.3%. In total, the participants' satisfaction rate with the electronic course was 88%. The results of this study indicated a positive impact of the course on students' knowledge regarding sexual issues, and the students overall expressed satisfaction with this electronic course. Therefore, it is recommended to implement this course extensiver in other universities considering the advantages of E-learning.

Erectile dysfunction among men with chronic kidney disease undergoing hemodialysis in a Brazilian Amazon urban setting: an epidemiological study.

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a common sexual problem among men with chronic kidney disease (CKD). The severity of sexual dysfunction tends to worsen with kidney damage. This study aims to evaluate the erectile function and sexual quality of life of adult male CKD patients undergoing hemodialysis (HD) in a hospital located in the Brazilian Amazon. A cross-sectional quantitative study was performed within the HD Sector of the Nephrology Unit including men with CKD aged ≥ 18 years, undergoing ≥ 3 weekly HD sessions for ≥ 3 months who had been sexually active for ≥ 6 months. We used the Male Sexual Quotient (MSQ) to measure sexual satisfaction and the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF5) to establish erectile function. Statistical analysis was performed with SPSS 21.0 using appropriate tests, such as Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis (P < 0.05). Ninety-eight patients (51.68 ± 15.28 years) were evaluated. They were primarily married/or living with a partner (60.20%), with HD time between 1 to 5 years (55.10%), and an average KTV of 1.17. ED prevalence was 66.30%, and it was associated with a higher age group (p = 0.01), lower family income (p = 0.02), diabetes (p = 0.01), lower mean corpuscular hemoglobin (p = 0.04), higher total calcium (p = 0.04), and lower albumin (p = 0.03). Around 75% classified their sex life as regular to excellent. Despite the high ED prevalence, most men with CKD in HD reported experiencing regular to excellent sex life. The study underscores the importance of establishing effective screening and conducting routine evaluations regarding sexual issues in these men.

Visualizing the Emergence of Political Homophobia: Anti-LGBTQ+ and Anti-Ukrainian Sentiment in Russian Public Opinion

On February 24, 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine, escalating a conflict that began in 2014 with the annexation of Crimea. Before the annexation, Russia’s anti-gay propaganda legislation set a precedent for homophobic laws worldwide. Over the past decade, Russia implemented numerous anti-LGBTQ+ laws, including the recent ban on gender reassignment. Through state-controlled media, Russian leadership portrayed both of these efforts as defending the nation against Western influence. So, I ask: Did it work? In this visualization, we see that before the introduction of anti-gay propaganda legislation and the Ukrainian conflict, public opinion data showed no statistically significant correlation between attitudes on the two issues. However, following these events, a positive association emerged between support for anti-gay views and anti-Ukrainian sentiment. These findings shed light on the growth of political homophobia within the Russian context, where gender and sexuality issues have become intertwined with a national security narrative.

Pregnancy and associated factors among teenage females in Hula District, Sidama region, Ethiopia: a community-based cross-sectional study.

Teenage pregnancy causes serious health, social, and economic consequences, with 95% occurring in developing countries. A significant number of girls start childbearing at an early age in Ethiopia, which contributes to high infant and maternal morbidity and mortality. However, the information on teenage pregnancy and related variables is limited in the study area. To assess the prevalence of teenage pregnancy and its associated factors among teenage females in the Hula District, Sidama, Ethiopia. A community-based cross-sectional study was employed among 518 teenagers, randomly selected between 15 February and 15 March 2023. An interviewer-administered questionnaire was used for data collection. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were applied to assess the relationship under study. Living in rural areas compared to urban [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 3.90; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.30-11.3], lack of awareness about family planning methods (AOR = 5.90; 95% CI: 1.60-22.24), unfamiliarity with the availability of family planning services (AOR = 3.20; 95% CI: 1.08-9.24), and inadequate communication about sexual issues with parents (AOR = 3.61; 95% CI: 1.14-11.56) were independently associated with teenage pregnancy. The prevalence of teenage pregnancies in the Hula District was high. Factors such as residing in rural areas, limited access to information on family planning methods and services, as well as a lack of open discussions about sexual health were associated with teenage pregnancy.

Effect of the extensive parallel process model on high-risk sexual behaviors of adolescent girls: A randomized control trial

The present study aims to determine the effect of the extensive parallel process model on high-risk sexual behaviors of adolescent girls. This randomized control trial study employed a pre- and post-test design, incorporating both intervention and control groups, and involved 50 female students in the 2019. The primary instruments employed for data collection in this study comprised a demographic questionnaire encompassing age, educational level, parental education, and birth order of the child within the family. Additionally, the Iranian Adolescents Risk-Taking Scale served as a standardized tool for assessing risk-taking behaviors among Iranian adolescents. Before the intervention, the independent t-test conducted between the test and control groups revealed no statistically significant difference in high-risk sexual behaviors (P=0.23). However, after the intervention, a significant difference was observed between the two groups as indicated by the independent t-test (P&lt;0.01). The ANCOVA test, employed to discern differences while controlling for pre-test effects, demonstrated statistical significance (Eta=0.27, P&lt;0.01), underscoring the enduring impact of the intervention on high-risk sexual behaviors. In conclusion, the efficacy of the extensive parallel process model in mitigating sexual risk-taking behaviors among adolescents underscores its capacity to foster a heightened understanding of the gravity inherent in sexual issues.

Magnitude and associated factors of sexual violence among female housemaids attending night school in Bahir Dar City, Northwest Ethiopia: Institution-Based Cross-Sectional Study, 2022.

Sexual violence is a major public health problem that affects the health and well-being of millions of young people. Housemaids are the most vulnerable group to sexual violence due to their nature of work. It leads to various physical, mental, sexual, and reproductive health problems, especially in our country's context. However, they have limited information regarding the magnitude and the factors associated with sexual violence among housemaids. As a result, the purpose of this study was to determine the magnitude and risk factors for sexual violence among female housemaids attending night school in Bahir Dar, Northwest Ethiopia, in 2022. An institution-based cross-sectional study design was conducted among 340 housemaids attending night school in Bahir Dar city from May 15 to June 20, 2022. Participants were selected using simple random sampling through computer-generated techniques. An interviewer-administered, structured questionnaire was used. Data were entered, coded, and cleaned using EPI Data version 4.6.0.2, and exported to SPSS version 26 for further analysis. Both bivariable and multivariable logistic regression were done to identify factors associated with sexual violence. P-value and 95% confidence interval were used to declare the statistical association. The magnitude of sexual violence after being a housemaid was 30.3% with a 95% confidence interval (25.3-35.38). Ever had sex [Adjusted Odds Ratio(AOR) = 4.67; 95%; Confidence Interval(CI) (2.60, 8.39)], no discussion of sexual and reproductive issues [Adjusted Odds Ratio(AOR) = 2.32; 95%; Confidence Interval(CI) (1.29, 4.16)], poor social support [Adjusted Odds Ratio(AOR) = 2.69; 95%; Confidence Interval(CI) (1.32, 5.52)], were identified as factors associated with sexual violence among housemaids. Similarly, academic performance [Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) = 0.96; 95%; Confidence Interval (CI) (0.93, 0.99)], and distance to reach school [Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) = 2.04; 95%; Confidence Interval (CI) (1.19, 3.48)] were identified as factors associated with sexual violence among housemaids. This study identified that the magnitude of sexual violence among housemaids was high. Housemaids who ever had sex, no discussion of sexual and reproductive health (SRH) with anyone, poor social support, poor academic performance, and distance to reach school were factors associated with sexual violence. Therefore, creating a sexual and reproductive health (SRH) discussion session for housemaids is important for securing their sexual rights.

Study protocol for a pre/post study on knowledge, attitudes and behaviors regarding STIs and in particular HPV among Italian adolescents, teachers, and parents in secondary schools.

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are one of the most important issues related to sexual and reproductive health, as it is estimated that more than 1 million new infections are acquired every day worldwide and data on the prevalence and incidence of these infections, especially among young people, are increasing. Nevertheless, there are some knowledge and behavioral gaps, and young people need more support from their school and family network to protect themselves and their peers. Therefore, we have designed a multicenter prospective intervention study involving public lower and upper secondary school students, their parents and teachers (ESPRIT). The intervention will take place in the school year 2023-2024, where students will meet with experts and be involved in peer education, while adults (parents and teachers) will participate in distance and face-to-face trainings. All target groups will complete KAP (knowledge, attitudes, practice) questionnaires before and after participating in the intervention to measure its effectiveness. The results of this study will help to assess and improve the level of knowledge of lower and upper secondary school students, parents and teachers about STIs and HPV in particular, raise awareness of sexual and reproductive health issues, including vaccination, among lower and upper secondary school students and their families, and evaluate the effectiveness of these interventions in terms of improving knowledge and changing attitudes and behaviors. The study protocol has been approved by the Regional Unique Ethics Committee of Friuli Venezia Giulia (CEUR-2023-Sper-34). The project is being carried out with the technical and financial support of the Italian Ministry of Health-CCM.

“Change It, Change It” Barriers for Parent–Adolescent Communication about Contraceptives in Bahir Dar City, North West, Ethiopia, 2023

Background. The rising prevalence of risky behavior among East African adolescents places an additional strain on them, their families, and society. Adolescents in this area are particularly vulnerable to sexual and reproductive health (SRH) issues such as sexually transmitted infections, unexpected pregnancies, unsafe abortions, sexual abuse, and rape. This is believed to be due to the lack of communication between most parents in this region and their adolescents about SRH issues, such as contraceptives. This study explored barriers to parent–adolescent communication about contraceptives. Materials and Methods. A qualitative study with a phenomenological approach was used. Participants in the study were purposefully selected parents and adolescents who lived in the city of Bahir Dar, Ethiopia. An in‐depth interview guide was prepared and used to collect the data. ATLAS.ti software was used for coding, and thematic analysis was subsequently performed. Results. Thirty adolescents and 20 parents participated in the in‐depth interviews. Five main themes and 14 subthemes were identified. The main barriers to parental‐adolescent communication about contraceptives were cultural and religious factors, the knowledge gap, parents’ busyness, age, and the media as a source of information. Conclusions and Recommendations. To improve communication with very young adolescents (ages 10–13), parents should have sufficient and accurate knowledge about contraception as well as efficient communication techniques. To involve all stakeholders, including parents, in the deconstruction of sociocultural norms surrounding the SRH of adolescents, it is important to strengthen and spread campaigns that raise awareness of parental‐adolescent communication.

Sexual and reproductive health issues of women attending psychiatric clinic in India-A qualitative study.

Women with mental illness (WMI) experience considerable disparities in sexual and reproductive health (SRH) when compared to the general population. Due to their restricted access to SRH services, they have unmet contraceptive needs, a greater prevalence of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and sexual dysfunction. The study aimed to explore the SRH issues of WMI in a tertiary care psychiatric outpatient clinic in Bengaluru, India. A qualitative hermeneutic phenomenological approach was used. A reproductive age group (18-49 years) WMI (n = 32) was selected by purposive sampling technique. The period of data collection was from January 2021 to September 2021. An in-depth face-to-face interview was conducted using a validated interview schedule. Hycner's explicitation process was used to investigate the constituents of a phenomenon. The codes revealed potential themes and subthemes. SRH issues faced by WMI were organized under three main themes, namely, (1) factors responsible for sexual dysfunction, (2) symptoms of STI and treatment adherence, and (3) use of contraception and its barrier. Sexual dysfunction among WMI is contributed by numerous factors. Women were exhibited limited knowledge of STI symptoms and treatment compliance. Such women experience issues with current method of contraception and are unaware of the alternatives. The findings of this study may be helpful for clinical nurses in drawing attention to and increasing knowledge of the reproductive health issues that women with psychiatric disorders face, taking the required precautions, and devising strategies for minimizing harm.

Factors associated with condomless anal sex among adolescent men who have sex with men and transgender women in three Brazilian state capitals: a PrEP1519 study.

To analyze the factors that increase the practice of condomless anal sex (CAS) among adolescent men who have sex with men (AMSM) and adolescent travestis and transgender women (ATGW) in three Brazilian state capitals. PrEP1519 is a prospective, multicenter cohort study demonstrating the effectiveness of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) among AMSM and ATGW aged from 15 to 19 years in three Brazilian state capitals. The analyses were performed with baseline cohort data, including 1,418 adolescents enrolled from 2019 to 2021. The outcome studied was CAS in the last six months, and the potentially associated factors were sociodemographic, behavioral, healthcare, and history of violence and discrimination. Descriptive, bivariate, and multivariate analyses were conducted. Adjusted prevalence ratios (aPRs) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) were estimated. Most of the participants were AMSM (91.5%), aged 18 to 19 years (75.9%), Black (40.5%), with secondary or higher education in progress (92.7%), with CAS during the first sexual intercourse (54.2%), sexual initiation before the age of 14 (43.4%), and history of group sex (24.6%) and transactional sex (14.6%). The prevalence of CAS in the last six months was 80.6% (95%CI 78.5%-82.6%). Adolescents who reported condomless first sexual intercourse (aPR: 1.18; 95%CI 1.10-1.25), use of psychoactive substances (aPR: 1.09; 95%CI 1.03-1.16), and transactional sex (aPR: 1.11; 95%CI 1.04-1.20) had a higher prevalence of CAS in the last six months. We also found that those aged 15 to 17 years had a higher prevalence of CAS than those aged 18 to 19 (aPR: 1.07; 95%CI 0.99-1.13). The prevalence of CAS was high among AMSM and ATGW, being associated with practices that may increase the risk of sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Therefore, it is recommended to strengthen sexual health programs for young people that address the issue of sexuality and STI prevention, as well as to expand access to preventive methods, such as condoms and PrEP.

The effect of sexuality education based on the information, motivation, and behavioral skills model on improving the teachers’ professional competence

IntroductionProfessional competence is the basic need of teachers in effective sexuality education. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of school-based sexuality education (SBSE) on teachers' professional competence (TPC), using the information, motivation, and behavioral skills (IMB) model, in boys' schools. MethodsA randomized controlled field trial was conducted on 60 teachers who taught adolescents aged 11–19 years and were selected from 12 public boys' schools in Sari, northern Iran. Two groups (intervention and control) were assigned using a multi-stage stratified random sampling method. Researchers utilized a self-reported socio-demographic questionnaire and an IMB model-based questionnaire to assess the effects of the educational program. Four groups of 6–8 people underwent six 2-h training sessions based on an IBM model. Teachers were assessed before, immediately, and six weeks after the intervention to evaluate the outcome variables. The data were analyzed using the software SPSS-V19 and Chi-square test, Independent t-test, One-way ANOVA, and Repeated Measure ANOVA. ResultsThere were no significant differences between intervention and control groups at the baseline in socio-demographic characteristics and TPC (p > 0.05). The mean scores of TPC in sexuality education in every three dimensions of knowledge (P = 0.001), skill (P = 0.002), and attitude (P = 0.007) were significantly higher in the intervention group than in the control group. ConclusionsThe results of this study show that by using the SBSE program based on the IMB model, the TPC for teaching sexual issues can be improved.