CME Information: Sexual Health and Religion: A Primer for the Sexual Health Clinician (CME)

Spadt, Susan Kellogg; Rosenbaum, Talli Y.; Dweck, Alyssa; Millheiser, L.; Pillai‐Friedman, Sabitha; Krychman, Michael

doi:10.1111/jsm.12593

Cited by 37 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…Similar to other Muslim-majority country studies, this study found that social, political, and ideological conflicts hinder and threaten women's SRH rights and well-being and fail to protect them from harmful behaviours [19,23,82,83]. Cultural sensitivity may inhibit Muslim women from openly discussing reproductive, sexual, and HIV/STI issues [40,[84][85][86]. Religious belief associating HIV infection with immoral behaviour, such as sex outside marriage, intensifies stigma towards WLHIV and exposes women to discrimination, isolation, and in some cases harm [41,46,48].…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 59%

Sexual and reproductive health of women living with HIV in Muslim-majority countries: a systematic mixed studies review

Juliastuti

Dean

Fitzgerald

2020

BMC Int Health Hum Rights

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Background: The number of women living with the human immunodeficiency virus (WLHIV) in Muslim-majority countries has increased significantly in the last decade. These women are often marginalized and face insecure sexual and reproductive health (SRH) needs and rights. However, little is known about the multi-faceted factors influencing these women's fertility, contraceptive, and perinatal decisions and sexual life. This systematic mixed studies review aimed to synthesize the empirical evidence on social, cultural, and structural factors influencing the SRH of WLHIV in Muslim-majority countries. Methods: This review provides a synthesis of quantitative, qualitative and mixed-method research findings searched from PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, CINAHL and Cochrane databases. We screened 3452 SRH studies involving WLHIV. The studies, published in English between 2008 and 2017, were from 20 Muslim-majority countries with increased numbers of WLHIV. The quality of eligible studies was appraised using a mixed-methods appraisal tool (MMAT) version 2011. Findings were thematically analysed by a hybrid deductive-inductive approach. Two independent reviewers were involved in the study selection, data extraction, quality appraisal, and data synthesis. Results: We included 13 SRH-related studies involving 1748 WLHIV in eight Muslim-majority countries. Most of these studies explored fertility desire and sexual health, while only a small proportion related to contraceptive use and the perinatal-care experience. We identified that WLHIV faced neglect of their SRH rights. These rights were predominantly affected by the socio-cultural, religious and health-services context of the women's lives, which directed them to unsafe sex practices and stressful perinatal experiences. Conclusions: This study points to the need for SRH laws, policies, and interventions which stop WLHIV experiencing SRH discrimination violence and achieving their SRH rights.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 59%

Sexual and reproductive health of women living with HIV in Muslim-majority countries: a systematic mixed studies review

Juliastuti

Dean

Fitzgerald

2020

BMC Int Health Hum Rights

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“…Research has demonstrated that a person’s religion can influence the behavioural and medical treatments for sexual complaints. 12 Therefore, further research needs to be conducted to explore and understand this potentially influential barrier.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Chlamydia and HIV testing, contraception advice, and free condoms offered in general practice: a qualitative interview study of young adults’ perceptions of this initiative

et al. 2017

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BackgroundOpportunistic chlamydia screening is actively encouraged in English general practices. Based on recent policy changes, Public Health England piloted 3Cs and HIV in 2013–2014, integrating the offer of chlamydia testing with providing condoms, contraceptive information, and HIV testing (referred to as 3Cs and HIV) according to national guidelines.AimTo determine young adults’ opinions of receiving a broader sexual health offer of 3Cs and HIV at their GP practice.Design and settingQualitative interviews were conducted in a general practice setting in England between March and June 2013.MethodThirty interviews were conducted with nine male and 21 female patients aged 16–24 years, immediately before or after a routine practice attendance. Data were transcribed verbatim and analysed using a thematic framework.ResultsParticipants indicated that the method of testing, timing, and the way the staff member approached the topic were important aspects to patients being offered 3Cs and HIV. Participants displayed a clear preference for 3Cs and HIV to be offered at the GP practice over other sexual health service providers. Participants highlighted convenience of the practice, assurance of confidentiality, and that the sexual health discussion was appropriate and routine. Barriers identified for patients were embarrassment, unease, lack of time, religion, and patients believing that certain patients could take offence. Suggested facilitators include raising awareness, reassuring confidentiality, and ensuring the offer is made in a professional and non-judgemental way at the end of the consultation.ConclusionGeneral practice staff should facilitate patients’ preferences by ensuring that 3Cs and HIV testing services are made available at their surgery and offered to appropriate patients in a non-judgemental way.

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“…In Italy, Catholicism has strong cultural roots and is still taught in Italian schools. Catholicism considers sexuality an absolute taboo, and that sex before marriage or sex that does not result in conception is unacceptable [ 18 ]. From what emerges from our study, however, although 73.4% of respondents declared themselves Catholic, only 16% believe that religion has an effective influence on the sexual choices of individuals.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Survey of Current Knowledge on Sexually Transmitted Diseases and Sexual Behaviour in Italian Adolescents

Drago

Ciccarese

Zangrillo

et al. 2016

IJERPH

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Worldwide, 500 million people a year acquire a sexually transmitted disease (STD). Adolescents, accounting for 25% of the sexually active population, are the most affected. To analyze sexual behavior among Italian adolescents and their knowledge of STDs, with the goal of preventing their transmission, a questionnaire was administered to 2867 secondary school students (1271 males and 1596 females) aged 14–21 years. For the study, 1492 students were interviewed in Genoa (Northern Italy) and 1375 in Lecce (Southern Italy). For 37% of the respondents, parents and teachers were the main source of information on sex, and 95% believed that school should play the primary role in sex education. However, only 9% considered the sex education they received in school good. Noteworthy, only 0.5% of the teenagers recognized the sexually transmitted diseases from a list of diseases, and 54% of them did not know what a Pap test was. Confusion about the meaning of contraception and prevention was evident; only 22% knew that condoms and abstinence are the only methods for preventing STDs. Finally, a consistent number of students are exposed to risk factors for STDs transmission; e.g., alcohol and recreational drug use, promiscuity and improper condom use. On the basis of our study, there is an urgent need for the introduction of sex education as a proper subject in Italian schools.

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CME Information: Sexual Health and Religion: A Primer for the Sexual Health Clinician (CME)

Cited by 37 publications

References 16 publications

Sexual and reproductive health of women living with HIV in Muslim-majority countries: a systematic mixed studies review

Sexual and reproductive health of women living with HIV in Muslim-majority countries: a systematic mixed studies review

Chlamydia and HIV testing, contraception advice, and free condoms offered in general practice: a qualitative interview study of young adults’ perceptions of this initiative

A Survey of Current Knowledge on Sexually Transmitted Diseases and Sexual Behaviour in Italian Adolescents

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