Sexual and Reproductive Health

Unprotected sexual intercourse places young women in multiple partnerships at great risk for sexually transmitted infections in Haiti. While the most effective means of preventing these infections is consistent condom use, little is known about the factors that influence its use. This study sought to analyze high-risk sexual behavior among young Haitian women with multiple sex partners and to identify and understand factors that influence condom use among these young women. Data were drawn from the 2017 Haiti Demographic and Health survey. Explanatory analysis was used to test for associations between condom use and the selected sociodemographic factors using Pearson’s chi square test. Then, multiple logistic regression was fitted to the data to assess the effects of sociodemographic characteristics of young women in multiple partnerships on condom use. The study revealed significant differences between sociodemographic factors and condom use among young women in multiple partnerships. A young woman’s age, age at sexual debut, level of education, marital status, and household wealth predicted condom use. The paper highlights the importance of reinforcing sexuality education among young women in Haiti.

This paper is a qualitative descriptive study of traditional reproductive health(RH) and family planning practices among Ghana's Dagomba. The purpose of the study was to examine the Dagomba traditional knowledge of RH practices and beliefs, and their relevance in the context of modern health practices. Data for this study was gathered through qualitative methods, including individual in-depth interviews, focus group discussions, and the use of a qualitative questionnaire among 37 participants. Thematic analysis was undertaken. In examining the Dagomba traditional knowledge of RH practices, it was recognized that the concept of RH extends across the life continuum, reaching beyond the sexually active adult population. The RH practices are based on the Dagomba health beliefs and value systems regarding sexuality and the body's functioning. The  Dagomba’s health philosophies and practices regarding pregnancy, delivery, breastfeeding, and sexuality have public and preventive health functions, including conflicting positions. The typical traditional RH and FP practices include abstinence, rhythm, prolonged breastfeeding, and postpartum abstinence. Conclusion: We posit that when traditional knowledge of RH is examined critically by modern health experts, it could help us understand why people from different cultures have varying interpretations and uptake of modern RH practices. Thus, we invite biomedical practitioners to be culturally sensitive and incorporate relevant knowledge of traditional RH practices into their current health education efforts

The rise of the internet gave birth to online pornography (OP), an industry that is rapidly growing. OP can be consumed through various mediums, including videos, photos, cybersex, telephone sex, and sexual chatting: this can be followed by masturbation. While masturbation may be a manifestation of OP addiction, it is not necessarily a pathology (de Alarcón et al., 2019). There are concerns surrounding OP use due to its triple A factors: accessibility, affordability, and anonymity (de Alarcón et al., 2019). The triple A factors arose with the evolution of the internet and added to OP's addictive qualities. Furthermore, these factors increase OP ubiquity among the population and at earlier stages in life. Studies have shown that children are accessing OP at ages 11 to 13 through cell phone and internet usage. Some reports include children as young as 8 years old (McCormack & Wignall, 2017). OP addiction, which can sometimes be called hypersexual behaviour, may present as compulsive behaviour that dominates one's life that results in dysfunctional sexual behaviours. With the growth of the OP industry and its potential impacts on the psychological well-being of consumers, there has been a rise of alarmist movements such as the state of Utah declaring that pornography is a "public health crisis" (Weiler, 2016) and a Canadian Parliament study on the public health effects of violent pornography (Casey, 2017). This paper will discuss how both online and offline pornography has shown associations to various mental illnesses and decreased biopsychosocial function and the potential benefits of consumption.

During global health crises, different narratives regarding infectious disease epidemics circulate in traditional media (e.g. news agencies, television channels) and social media. Our study investigated the narratives related to sexual transmission of Zika virus that circulated on Twitter during a public health emergency and analyzed the relationship between information on Twitter and on traditional media. We examined 10,748 tweets posted during the peaks of Twitter activity between January and March 2016. Posts in English, Spanish, French, and Portuguese and websites linked to tweets were manually reviewed and analyzed thematically. During the study period, there were three peaks of Twitter activity related to the sexual transmission of Zika. Most tweets in the first peak (n = 412) had humorous/sarcastic content (55%). Most tweets in the second and third peaks (n = 5,154 and n = 5,182, respectively) disseminated information (>93%). Across languages, textual and visual content on the websites were predominantly placed online by traditional media and highlighted epidemiological narratives published by public health agencies, with little or no mention of the concerns or experiences of individuals most affected by Zika. Prioritising epidemiological/clinical aspects of epidemics may have a depoliticising effect and contribute to overlooking socio-economic determinants of the Zika epidemic and issues related to reproductive justice.

The global trend of declining fertility rates and an increasingly ageing population has led to increased scrutiny of parenthood. Although there are more childless men than childless women, there is very little research literature on the impact of male childlessness. The childless are absent from much social science literature, which has mainly focussed on family and women. Feminist studies into infertility and ageing have highlighted the absence of the male experience. Involuntary childlessness has been viewed as a complex bereavement formed by multiple losses. Distress levels in both men and women in this population have been found to be as high those with grave medical conditions. Objectives The aim of this study was to examine older men?s experience of involuntary childlessness. Methods This piece draws on my qualitative auto/biographical doctoral study that was framed by biographical, life course, gerontological, and feminist approaches. Data collection involved in-depth semi-structured biographical interviews with 14 self-defined involuntary childless men aged between 49 and 82?years from across the United Kingdom. A latent thematic analysis highlighted the complex intersections between agency, biology, childlessness, economics, mental and physical health, relationships, and socio-cultural structures. Major findings Findings countered the stereotype that men are not interested in reproduction. I argue that that involuntary childlessness should be considered as a significant factor in older men's poor health and social capital. Conclusions This piece challenges the common narratives that the social, emotional, and relational aspects of involuntary childlessness do not affect men.

Zika virus (ZIKV) is linked to deleterious foetal and neonate outcomes. Maternal exposure to ZIKV through mosquitoes and sexual fluids creates a public health challenge for communities and policymakers, which is exacerbated by high levels of chronic non-communicable diseases in American Samoa. This study aimed to identify structural barriers to ZIKV prevention in American Samoa and situate them within locally relevant cultural and epidemiological contexts. This study assessed knowledge, attitudes and access to ZIKV prevention among 180 adults in American Samoan public health clinics. It queried knowledge about pre-natal care, protection against mosquitoes and condom use. Women were most likely to identify pre-natal care as important. The majority of participants were able to identify how to prevent mosquito bites, but may have been unable to follow through due to socioeconomic and infrastructure limitations. Few participants identified condom use as a preventative measure against ZI...

HIV is a growing public health problem in Europe, with men-having-sex-with-men and migrants from endemic regions as the most affected key populations. More evidence on effective behavioral interventions to reduce sexual risk is needed. This article describes the systematic development of a theory-guided computer-assisted safer sex intervention, aiming at supporting people living with HIV in sexual risk reduction. We applied the Intervention Mapping (IM) protocol to develop this counseling intervention in the framework of a European multicenter study. We conducted a needs assessment guided by the information-motivation-behavioral (IMB) skills model, formulated change objectives and selected theory-based methods and practical strategies, i.e. interactive computer-assisted modules as supporting tools for provider-delivered counseling. Theoretical foundations were the IMB skills model, social cognitive theory and the transtheoretical model, complemented by dual process models of affecti...

Cilj rada bio je da se istraži stav prema reproduktivnom zdravlju i upućenost mladih u njegovo očuvanje. Prigodnim uzorkom obuhvaćeno je 2.737 mladih u periodu srednje adolescencije (prosečan uzrast ispitanika bio je 16,93 godine) s teritorije svih opština AP Vojvodine. Korišćeni upitnik činile su Skale stavova prema primeni zaštitnih sredstava i rizičnom ponašanju (21 tvrdnja praćena petostepenim Likertovim skalama) i test znanja (17 tvrdnji o zaštiti reproduktivnog zdravlja s ponuđenim da – ne odgovorima). Metodom glavnih komponenti (uz Promaks rotaciju) identifikovana su 4 faktora, značajna prema Gutman-Kajzerovom kriterijumu u prostoru stavki Skale stavova prema primeni zaštitnih sredstava i rizičnom ponašanju. Nazvani su: Stav prema kontracepciji, Stav prema seksualnosti muškaraca, Stav prema reproduktivnom zdravlju i Stav prema seksualnosti žena. Višestrukom regresionom analizom pokazalo se da osobe koje imaju pozitivniji stav prema kondomima, reproduktivnom zdravlju i seksual...

Cilj rada bio je da se istraži stav prema reproduktivnom zdravlju i upućenost mladih u njegovo očuvanje. Prigodnim uzorkom obuhvaćeno je 2.737 mladih u periodu srednje adolescencije (prosečan uzrast ispitanika bio je 16,93 godine) s teritorije svih opština AP Vojvodine. Korišćeni upitnik činile su Skale stavova prema primeni zaštitnih sredstava i rizičnom ponašanju (21 tvrdnja praćena petostepenim Likertovim skalama) i test znanja (17 tvrdnji o zaštiti reproduktivnog zdravlja s ponuđenim da – ne odgovorima). Metodom glavnih komponenti (uz Promaks rotaciju) identifikovana su 4 faktora, značajna prema Gutman-Kajzerovom kriterijumu u prostoru stavki Skale stavova prema primeni zaštitnih sredstava i rizičnom ponašanju. Nazvani su: Stav prema kontracepciji, Stav prema seksualnosti muškaraca, Stav prema reproduktivnom zdravlju i Stav prema seksualnosti žena. Višestrukom regresionom analizom pokazalo se da osobe koje imaju pozitivniji stav prema kondomima, reproduktivnom zdravlju i seksual...

[English]
Strategic activism led by the women's and feminist movements since the 1980s has impelled Latin American states to legislate on the issues of gender-based violence and sexual and reproductive health. Yet, the translation of feminist demands and ideas, its processes and outcomes in multilevel state legislation, has only recently caught the attention of political scientists (Vickers et al. 2020). Using the case of Argentina, I qualitatively analyse national and provincial legislation and demonstrate that significant incoherencies exist in ontological and conceptual incorporations of gender-based violence and sexual and reproductive health, gendering in complex ways its citizenship regime. These incoherencies unfold both horizontally (between policy areas) and vertically (between levels of government). This article invites future empirical research to account for those incoherencies and consider their implications for policymaking, feminist mobilization, and conservative resistance to gender equality-oriented public policies.

[Português]
O ativismo estratégico liderado por movimentos de mulheres e feministas desde a década de 1980 impulsionou os Estados latino-americanos a legislar sobre as questões de violência de gênero e saúde sexual e reprodutiva. No entanto, a tradução das ideias e demandas feministas, seus procesos e resultados, para uma legislação estadual multinivelada apenas recentemente chamou a atenção de cientistas políticos (Vickers et al. 2020). Usando o caso da Argentina, analiso qualitativamente a legislação nacional e provincial, e demonstro a existência de incoerências significantes e incorporações ontológicas e conceituais da violência de genero, e saúde sexual e reprodutiva, "gendering" regimes de cidadanias em formas complexas. Essas incoerências desdobram-se tanto horizontalmente (entre as áreas da política) como verticalmente (entre os níveis de governo). Esse artigo convida futuras pesquisas empíricas a dar conta dessas incoerências e considerar suas implicações para a elaboração de políticas, mobilização feminista e resistência conservadora às políticas públicas orientadas para a igualdade de gênero.