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Abstract

COVID-19 and associated policy responses created unique social, economic and health risks for sex workers. Through semi-structured interviews we explored pre- and early COVID-19 experiences and work practices of ten cisgender female sex workers 50 years of age and older in Queensland, Australia, analysing the findings using a risk environment framework. Throughout early 2020, participants navigated a complex risk environment, managing economic needs, health and safety, occupational stigma and policing. Australia's policy responses altered the risks and opportunities available to participants. Half the participants continued sex work and half stopped sex work with some accessing economic support and withdrawing superannuation savings. Those who continued sex work drew on life and work experience to reassess changing health, stigma, and policing risks, and adapted their work strategies by increasing client screening and modifying services. Participants relied on information from peer networks and organisations to guide work practices but remained wary of contact tracing, police and the media. Decriminalisation of sex work and the strengthening of sex worker organisation and government partnerships are important in embedding equity in responses to ongoing and new public health threats.

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Article Details

Title:
'Change creates change' - older female sex workers' experiences through the early COVID-19 pandemic.

Author(s):
Brennan RP; Fitzgerald L; Dean JA; Selvey L

Summary:
The study looked at how older female sex workers in Queensland, Australia, were affected by COVID-19. Some continued their work while others stopped, trying to handle health and money challenges. They adapted by being more careful with clients and getting help from others, and the study suggests making sex work legal could help protect them.

Meta:
pubmed id: 37355340 Indexed on February 9th, 2025

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Abstract

Distressing low libido is common among women and has significant negative impacts; mindfulness has shown promise to increase sexual desire in women with low libido, but existing interventions are not tailored to midlife and older women.

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Article Details

Title:
A virtual, group-based mindfulness intervention for midlife and older women with low libido lowers sexual distress in a randomized controlled pilot study.

Author(s):
Thomas HN; Brotto LA; de Abril Cameron F; Yabes J; Thurston RC

Summary:
Many women have low interest in sex, which can make them feel bad. Mindfulness may help women want sex more, but current programs don't fit the needs of middle-aged and older women.

Meta:
pubmed id: 37353906 Indexed on February 9th, 2025

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Abstract

The notions that manhood is hard to attain, easy to lose, and needs to be proven via public action constitute precarious manhood beliefs (PMB). PMB is a new concept and it remains unclear whether and how PMB relate to erectile dysfunction (ED) in cisgender men. The ability to achieve an erection remains considered as a cornerstone of masculinity and sexual performance can be conceived as a proof of one's masculinity. In this context, ED can be received as sexual failure and a threat to a man's masculinity and sense of adequacy. For these reasons, the hypothesis that PMB are associated with ED warranted empirical testing. In an anonymous online survey focusing on men's mental health conducted in German-speaking countries of Europe, 507 cisgender men (M = 44.2, SD = 15.2) completed measures on PMB, sexual function, self-stigma, social desirability, and conformity to traditional masculinity ideology (TMI). Multilinear regression analysis with stepwise introduction of relevant covariates evaluated potential associations between PMB and ED. Of a 507 cisgendered male sample, 63.1% reported an increased risk for ED based on previously established cutoff points. Elevated levels of PMB endorsement among the men predicted reduced sexual and erectile function in all models, even when accounting for relevant control variables such as age, education, self-stigma, social desirability, or conformity to TMI. Group comparisons revealed that the men suffering from ED showed higher levels of PMB endorsement but not self-stigma nor TMI relative to men without ED. PMB are significantly associated with ED. While determining causality will require further study, our results may support the hypothesis that higher levels of PMB endorsement may lead to increased tension to perform sexually, resulting in increased psychological pressure and a higher risk to develop ED.

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Article Details

Title:
Precarious Manhood Beliefs Are Positively Associated with Erectile Dysfunction in Cisgender Men.

Author(s):
Walther A; Rice T; Eggenberger L

Summary:
This study looks at how beliefs about needing to prove manhood might relate to problems like erectile dysfunction in men. They found that men who believed manhood is something that can be lost easily had a harder time with sexuality. This suggests these beliefs might stress men out, making it harder to perform sexually.

Meta:
pubmed id: 37351710 Indexed on February 9th, 2025

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Abstract

Research shows that, for different sex couples, individual levels of substance use are deleterious for relationship quality (e.g., satisfaction, intimate partner aggression), whereas dyadic concordance is usually protective. However, there has been no research on these effects among male couples, even though they show increased risk for substance use and certain indices of relationship distress (e.g., intimate partner aggression) compared to different sex couples. Male partners also display distinct similarity patterns and norms surrounding substance use, suggesting that there might be unique effects of substance use on relationship quality among this population. We conducted actor-partner interdependence models of substance use on relationship quality (intimate partner aggression, satisfaction) among a large sample of male dyads (N = 934 individuals, N = 467 dyads). Results suggested that there are novel actor, partner, and similarity effects that imply unique pathways to relationship well-being for male couples. These results are discussed in light of future clinical and empirical efforts. [NCT03186534 - 6/12/2017; NCT03284541 - 6/23/2017].

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Article Details

Title:
Substance Use and Relationship Functioning Among Young Male Couples.

Author(s):
Smith MS; Newcomb ME

Summary:
This study looked at how substance use affects the relationship quality for male couples. Researchers found that different patterns of substance use can affect how happy or aggressive couples are towards each other, and these effects might be different from those in other types of couples.

Meta:
pubmed id: 37351709 Indexed on February 9th, 2025

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Abstract

Prasterone, an intravaginal dyspareunia treatment in menopausal women, improves vaginal health through intracellular conversion of dehydroepiandrosterone into androgens and estrogens. Phase 3 trials for prasterone showed significant improvement in vaginal tissue health and reduction of pain.

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Article Details

Title:
Vestibular tissue changes following administration of intravaginal prasterone: a vulvoscopic open-label pilot study in menopausal women with dyspareunia.

Author(s):
Goldstein SW; Goldstein I; Kim NN

Summary:
Prasterone is a treatment that helps menopausal women with pain by making their vaginal health better. Studies showed it works by turning into hormones that make the tissue healthier and less painful.

Meta:
pubmed id: 37351544 Indexed on February 9th, 2025

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Abstract

Sexual communication is a common target in psychological treatments for vulvodynia, and associations with sexual function and distress, as well as pain intensity, have been demonstrated. However, structured observations of the communication patterns of couples with vulvodynia are lacking, as these are needed to guide treatment efforts.

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Article Details

Title:
Sexual communication patterns in couples with vulvodynia-a case-control behavioral observation study.

Author(s):
Ekholm E; Blaker H; Gottlander L; Zhao X; Linton SJ; Dewitte M; Flink IK

Summary:
The study talks about how talking about sex is important when helping women with a condition called vulvodynia that causes pain. But, scientists need to watch how couples with this condition talk to each other to learn how to help them better.

Meta:
pubmed id: 37350134 Indexed on February 9th, 2025

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Abstract

Sexual risky behaviors among adolescents and young people remain a major public health problem worldwide. This study examined the impact of parent-adolescent communication on adolescents' possibility to engage in risky behaviors. The study used baseline data from the Suubi-Maka Study (2008-2012) implemented in 10 primary schools in Southern Uganda. Binary logistic regression models were conducted to determine the association between parent-adolescent communication and sexual risk possibility. Results indicate that gender [OR 0.220, 95% CI 0.107, 0.455], age [OR 1.891, 95% CI 1.030, 3.471], household size [OR 0.661, 95% CI 0.479, 0.913], and comfort level of family communication [OR 0.944, 95% CI 0.899, 0.990] were significantly associated with lower levels of sexual risk possibility among adolescents. There is a need to build interventions that make it easy and comfortable for adolescents to have open discussion and communication with parents on sexual risk possibility, risky behaviors, and risky situations.

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Article Details

Title:
The Impact of Parent-Adolescent Communication on Reduction of Sexual Risk Possibility Among Adolescents: Findings from the Suubi-Maka Study.

Author(s):
Nattabi J; Nabunya P; Kizito S; Nabayinda J; Kiyingi J; Ssewamala F

Summary:
Adolescents and young people face big health risks from risky sexual behaviors. This study found that talking with parents can help lower these risks. It is important to make it easier for kids and parents to talk openly about these topics.

Meta:
pubmed id: 37349655 Indexed on February 9th, 2025

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Abstract

It is unclear what factors are associated with sexually transmissible infections (STI) and HIV testing and diagnosis among justice-involved adolescents, and if these differ for Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander peoples.

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Article Details

Title:
Sexually transmissible infections (STI) and HIV testing and diagnosis among Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal adolescents in contact with the Australian justice system: a cross-sectional study.

Author(s):
Taflan P; Simpson PL; Wilson M; Jones J; Donovan B; Amin J; Nathan S; Butler T

Summary:
Researchers are trying to figure out what causes make teenagers in trouble with the law more likely to get tested for or diagnosed with certain infections like HIV. They are also looking to see if these reasons are different for Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander teenagers.

Meta:
pubmed id: 37344218 Indexed on February 9th, 2025

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Abstract

There is now widespread consensus that by reducing HIV viral load to undetectable levels, HIV treatment also eliminates the risk of HIV sexual transmission. Advocates have hoped that eliminating the risk of HIV will be accompanied by a reduction of HIV-related stigma. These hopes have yet to be realised and people living with HIV continue to report stigma and sexual rejection. The burden of challenging HIV-related stigma has largely fallen on people living with HIV. It is time for those who are HIV-negative to also take on some of the burden in challenging HIV stigma.

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Article Details

Title:
U=U, PrEP and the unrealised promise of ending HIV-related stigma.

Author(s):
Wells N

Summary:
HIV treatment can lower the virus to undetectable levels and stop it from spreading during sex, but people with HIV still face stigma and rejection. It's important for everyone, not just those with HIV, to help fight this stigma.

Meta:
pubmed id: 37344211 Indexed on February 9th, 2025

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Abstract

Even with the Undetectable equals Untransmittable campaign (U=U) campaign, women living with HIV continue to experience intersecting forms of stigma. We explored how the somatic experiences of viewing a film about U=U and women could help individuals gain deeper understandings of HIV and alter learned prejudices.

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Article Details

Title:
'HIV made me fabulous': a qualitative analysis of embodied storytelling in film to address stigma, further understandings of U=U and advance gender equity.

Author(s):
Bhanji A; Kaida A; Roche J; Kilpatrick E; Anam F; Nicholson V; Muchenje M; Brotto LA; Carter A

Summary:
The study looked at how watching a film about a campaign that says people with HIV can't spread it if treated (U=U) could change people's views. It focused on women with HIV and how seeing the film might help others understand them better and reduce unfair treatment.

Meta:
pubmed id: 37344190 Indexed on February 9th, 2025

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Abstract

Although sexual arousal is commonly experienced in the daily context of relationships, most of what we know about sexual arousal comes from studies on individuals, often conducted in a laboratory context.

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Article Details

Title:
The way you make me feel: an ecological momentary assessment study on couple similarity in sexual arousal and its sexual, relational, and affective correlates.

Author(s):
Pawłowska A; Janssen E; Dewitte M

Summary:
Most research about feeling excited in a romantic way comes from studying people alone, usually in a lab. But, people often feel this way when they are with someone they care about.

Meta:
pubmed id: 37344001 Indexed on February 9th, 2025

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Abstract

The aim of this study was to explore service providers' lived experiences with abortion care in the Republic of Ireland following liberalisation in 2018 via public referendum. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews conducted between February 2020 and March 2021. Thirteen interviews were completed with providers who were directly involved in caring for patients accessing liberalised abortion care in the Republic of Ireland. The sample includes six general practitioners, three midwives, two obstetricians, and two nurses. Interpretative phenomenological analysis identified five super-ordinate themes in the providers' lived experiences: (1) public reactions to liberalised abortion care; (2) lessons from the service implementation; (3) getting involved in abortion care; (4) moments of moral doubt; and (5) remaining committed to the provision of care. Following liberalisation, providers recalled isolated experiences with anti-abortion sentiments, particularly from those who continue to oppose abortion care. They believed that implementation has been mostly successful in delivering a safe, robust, and accessible service in general practice, though identified ongoing challenges in Irish hospitals. Personally, the providers supported access to care and began providing because they perceived a duty to facilitate access to care. Many, however, reported occasional moral doubts about their work. Despite these, none had considered leaving abortion care and all were proud of their work. They said that patients' stories were a constant reminder about the importance of safe abortion care. Further work is required to ensure that abortion is fully integrated and normalised and that all providers and patients have access to supports.

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Article Details

Title:
: a qualitative study on providers' lived experiences with liberalised abortion care in the Republic of Ireland.

Author(s):
Dempsey B; Connolly M; Higgins MF

Summary:
This study looked at how medical workers in Ireland feel about providing abortion care after the law changed in 2018. The workers said most people think the services are safe and good, but there are some people who still disagree with abortions. The workers sometimes felt unsure about their work, but they all felt it was important and wanted to keep helping people.

Meta:
pubmed id: 37335387 Indexed on February 9th, 2025

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Abstract

Access to comprehensive contraceptive services for youth is essential to improving sexual and reproductive health. However, youth in many countries still face substantial obstacles to contraceptive access and use. The purpose of this study is to compare the contraceptive access experiences and perspectives of pregnant and parenting Mexican-origin youth in Guanajuato, Mexico, and Fresno County, California. Focus groups and in-depth interviews were conducted in Spanish and English among female youth in Mexico (= 49) and California ( = 25). Participants also completed a brief sociodemographic survey. Using a modified grounded theory approach, qualitative data were coded and thematically analysed based on Penchansky and Thomas's , and results were compared by location. Although knowledge of a service provider was high among youth in both locations, access was affected by social, cultural, and institutional dynamics and contraceptive use was mixed. Across locations, participants described obstacles to accessing their preferred method. Participants worried about parental and peer opinions about their use of contraception (), and about perceived side effects including infertility and pain (). Contextual differences included lack of contraceptive choice in Guanajuato () and incomplete knowledge about options in Fresno County (). The power to request and receive their method of choice () emerged as an important dimension that was not part of the original theory. Latina youth living in Mexico and the United States face multiple challenges accessing needed contraceptive options and services. Recognising and reducing these barriers can strengthen the contraceptive care landscape and promote the reproductive health and agency of young people. Although sexually active youth need access to comprehensive sexual and reproductive health services, youth in many countries face substantial barriers to care. This study compares the experiences of pregnant and parenting youth in accessing contraceptive services in Mexico and the United States. We conducted interviews and focus groups with 74 Mexican-origin young women and found that contraceptive use and access was affected by their concerns about parental and peer opinions as well as by provider attitudes. In Mexico, several participants reported being denied their preferred method by their provider. Identifying and addressing barriers to services can improve the quality of care and the reproductive health of young people.

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Article Details

Title:
Contraceptive access experiences and perspectives of Mexican-origin youth: a binational qualitative study.

Author(s):
Mitchell A; Gutmann-Gonzalez A; Brindis CD; Decker MJ

Summary:
Young people need access to birth control, but they often face problems getting it. This study looked at young moms in Mexico and California, finding that their worries about what others think and limited choices make it hard for them to get the birth control they want. Fixing these issues can help them have better health care.

Meta:
pubmed id: 37335382 Indexed on February 9th, 2025

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Abstract

The objective of this paper was to document contraceptive dynamics and associated correlates of contraceptive method switching and discontinuation in Myanmar during the COVID-19 pandemic. We conducted a secondary analysis of panel data collected between August 2020 and March 2021 among married women of reproductive age of households registered for a strategic purchasing project in Yangon. Statistical analysis included descriptive statistics, bivariate tests of association and adjusted log-Poisson models with generalised estimating equations to examine relative risks and 95% confidence intervals. Among the study sample, 28% of women reported method switching and 20% method discontinuation at least once during the study period. Difficulties accessing resupply/removal/insertion of contraception due to COVID-19 and method type at baseline were identified as correlates of method switching and discontinuation. Women who reported difficulty obtaining their method due to COVID-19 had an increased risk of method switching (RR: 1.85, 95%CI: 1.27, 2.71). Women who reported injectables as their initial contraceptive method at baseline had an increased risk of method switching (RR:1.71, 95%CI: 1.06, 2.76) and method discontinuation (RR: 2.16, 95%CI: 1.16, 4.02) compared to non-injectable users. As Myanmar evaluates its public health response to COVID-19, the country should consider innovative service delivery models that allow women to have sustained access to their method of choice during a health emergency. (211).

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Article Details

Title:
Contraceptive method switching and discontinuation during the COVID-19 pandemic in Myanmar: findings from a longitudinal cohort study.

Author(s):
Felker-Kantor E; Aung YK; Wheeler J; Keller B; Paudel M; Little K; Thein ST

Summary:
The paper looks at how women in Myanmar changed or stopped using birth control during the COVID-19 pandemic. It found that many women had trouble getting their birth control because of the pandemic, which led them to switch or stop using their methods. The study suggests that Myanmar should find better ways to help women get the birth control they need during such times.

Meta:
pubmed id: 37335341 Indexed on February 9th, 2025

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Abstract

This study focused on the issues surrounding health literacy in the context of women's sexual and reproductive health (SRH), the significance and availability of information for midwives and women; and the socio-cultural influences and barriers related to women's level of health literacy.

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Article Details

Title:
Student midwives' perspectives of women's sexual and reproductive health literacy in Turkey.

Author(s):
Church S; Ejder Apay S; Gurol A; Slaveva Y; Mills R

Summary:
This study looked at how well women understand health information about their sexual and reproductive health. It also talked about how important it is for midwives and women to have the right information. The research also explored how social and cultural factors might make it harder for women to know about their health.

Meta:
pubmed id: 37331301 Indexed on February 9th, 2025

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Abstract

This article focuses on access to early medical abortion care under Section 12 of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018, in Ireland and identifies existing barriers resulting from gaps in current policy design. The article draws primarily on qualitative interviews with 24 service users, 20 primary healthcare providers in the community and 27 key informants, including from grassroots groups that work with women from different migrant communities, to examine service users' experiences accessing early medical abortions on request up to 12 weeks gestation. The interviews were part of a wider mixed-methods study from 2020-2021 examining the barriers and facilitators to the implementation of abortion policy in Ireland. Our findings highlight care seekers' experiences with the GP-led service provision, including delays, facing non-providers, the mandatory three-day waiting period, and oversubscribed women's health and family planning clinics. Our findings also highlight the compounding challenges for migrants and additional barriers posed by the geographical distribution of the service and the 12-week gestational limit. Finally, it focuses on the remaining challenges for racialised and other marginalised groups. In order to provide a "thick description" of women's lives and the complexity of their experiences with abortion services in Ireland, we also present two narrative vignettes of service users, and their experiences with delays and navigating the healthcare system as migrants. To this effect, this article applies a reproductive justice framework to the results to highlight the compounding effects of these barriers on people located along multiple axes of social inequality.

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Article Details

Title:
Restrictive points of entry into abortion care in Ireland: a qualitative study of expectations and experiences with the service.

Author(s):
Chakravarty D; Mishtal J; Grimes L; Reeves K; Stifani B; Duffy D; Murphy M; Favier M; Horgan P; Chavkin W; Lavelanet A

Summary:
The research paper talks about the problems women in Ireland face when trying to get an early medical abortion. It found that there are delays and extra problems, especially for migrant women and those from different communities.

Meta:
pubmed id: 37326515 Indexed on February 9th, 2025

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Abstract

Chemsex (the use of psychoactive drugs in sexual contexts) has been associated with HIV acquisition and other STIs, so there is benefit in identifying those most likely to start chemsex to offer risk reduction interventions such as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). To date, there have been no data from a longitudinal study analysing factors most associated with starting and stopping chemsex.

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Article Details

Title:
Predictors of starting and stopping chemsex in men who have sex with men in England: findings from the AURAH2 prospective study.

Author(s):
Hammond R; Cambiano V; Lampe FC; Asboe D; Clarke A; Gilson R; Hart GJ; Miltz AR; Nwokolo N; Johnson AM; Phillips AN; Speakman A; Whitlock G; Rodger A; Sewell J

Summary:
Some people take drugs when they have sex, which can make it easier to get diseases like HIV. It's important to find out who might start using drugs this way so they can get help to stay safe. There's no research yet that shows why people start or stop using drugs during sex over time.

Meta:
pubmed id: 37321843 Indexed on February 9th, 2025

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Abstract

Numerous studies examine how LGBTQ life differs between large, cosmopolitan cities like San Francisco and other, less prominent cities. Nevertheless, most of this research is done through case studies of one or a handful of LGBTQ communities, making it unclear how unique the large hubs of LGBTQ life truly are. This study leverages nationally complete data from the U.S. Gayellow Pages, a historical listing of local LGBTQ organizations, to evaluate how the organizational response of LGBTQ communities to the AIDS crisis-arguably the most prolific era of organizational creation in LGBTQ history-differed between large hubs and other cities. Findings make clear the risks of generalizing about LGBTQ life from large hubs alone. Although AIDS stimulated the creation of health-related and social movement organizations in large hubs, AIDS was more strongly associated with organizational creation outside of rather than within large hubs. The types of organizations created due to AIDS tended to be more varied outside of rather than within large hubs as well. These differences highlight the value of decentering the large hubs of LGBTQ life as units of analysis in the study of sexuality and space.

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Article Details

Title:
Where the Great Cities Go, Do Other Cities Follow? Divergent Trajectories of LGBTQ Organizational Growth Across the United States During the AIDS Crisis.

Author(s):
Somashekhar M; Negro G

Summary:
This study shows that during the AIDS crisis, more LGBTQ organizations were created in smaller cities than in big cities like San Francisco. The types of organizations were also more varied in these smaller cities. The research warns against assuming big cities are the only important places for understanding LGBTQ life.

Meta:
pubmed id: 37318373 Indexed on February 9th, 2025

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Abstract

Among adolescents, engagement in risky sexual behavior is an important public health concern. Research has begun to explore the impact of adolescents' online experiences with their social and behavioral health as approximately 95% of adolescents have access to a smartphone connected to the internet. However, little research has specifically examined how online experiences impact sexual risk behaviors among adolescence. To fill gaps in the existing research, the current study sought to investigate the association between two potential risk factors and three sexual risk behavior outcomes. We examined how experiencing cybersexual violence victimization (CVV) and using pornography during early adolescence was associated with condom use, birth control use, and use of alcohol and drugs before sex among U.S. high school students (n = 974). Additionally, we explored multiple forms of adult support as potential protective factors of sexual risk behaviors. Our findings suggest that CVV and porn use may be associated with risky sexual behaviors for some adolescents. In addition, parental monitoring and support from adults at school may be two ways to support healthy adolescent sexual development.

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Article Details

Title:
Adults and Family as Supportive of Adolescent Sexual Development in the Age of Smartphones? Exploring Cybersexual Violence Victimization, Pornography Use, and Risky Sexual Behaviors.

Author(s):
Rivas-Koehl M; Valido A; Espelage DL; Lawrence TI

Summary:
The research studied how online experiences, like cyberbullying and watching porn, might affect teens' choices related to sex. They found that these online experiences could lead to risky behaviors, but having supportive adults, like parents and teachers, might help teens make safer choices.

Meta:
pubmed id: 37316619 Indexed on February 9th, 2025

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Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic profoundly affected physical, mental, and economic well-being across the globe and has disproportionately affected certain vulnerable groups. This paper provides a scoping review of literature on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on sex workers, published between December 2019 and December 2022. Six databases were systematically searched, identifying 1009 citations; 63 studies were included in the review. Thematic analysis revealed eight main themes: financial issues; exposure to harm; alternate ways of working; COVID-19 knowledge, protective behaviors, fear, and risk; well-being, mental health, and coping; access to support; access to health care; and the impact of COVID-19 on research with sex workers. COVID-associated restrictions led to reduced work and income, leaving many sex workers struggling to cover basic needs; additionally, government protections excluded those working in the informal economy. Fearing the loss of their already reduced number of clients, many felt compelled to compromise both prices and protective measures. Although some engaged in online sex work, this raised concerns about visibility and was impossible for those without technological access or skills. Many feared COVID-19, but felt pressure to continue working, often with clients who refused to wear masks or share exposure history. Other negative impacts on well-being related to the pandemic included reduced access to financial support or health care. Marginalized populations (and especially those in professions which require close contact like sex workers) need further support and capacity-building within the community to recover from the impact of COVID-19.

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Article Details

Title:
Struggling, Forgotten, and Under Pressure: A Scoping Review of Experiences of Sex Workers During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Author(s):
Brooks SK; Patel SS; Greenberg N

Summary:
The COVID-19 pandemic made life really hard for sex workers, affecting their money, safety, and health. Many couldn't work during lockdowns and didn't get government help, so they struggled to get by. Some tried working online, but not everyone could do that, and they still faced risks if clients refused to follow safety rules.

Meta:
pubmed id: 37311934 Indexed on February 9th, 2025

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Abstract

This study aimed to assess how factors such as sociodemographic characteristics, termination of pregnancy (TOP) related factors and contraception affect the risk of repeat TOP.

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Article Details

Title:
Factors influencing the risk of repeat termination of pregnancy: A register-based study in Finland.

Author(s):
Kc S; Gissler M; Heino A; Klemetti R

Summary:
This study looked at how different things like people's background, details about ending a pregnancy, and birth control can change the chance of having another pregnancy ended.

Meta:
pubmed id: 37307625 Indexed on February 9th, 2025

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Abstract

Voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC) may be incorporated into HIV prevention services for men who have sex with men (MSM). We conducted a mixed-methods study to elucidate barriers and facilitators to, and experience of, VMMC among MSM. Participants were MSM aged 18 years and older who were enrolled in an ongoing multicenter randomized controlled trial (RCT) to evaluate VMMC to prevent HIV among MSM in China. RCT participants completed a questionnaire before and after VMMC to assess perceptions of and complications after the procedure. A subset of RCT participants were selected for in-depth interviews. Interviewees answered open-ended questions about barriers and facilitators to and experience of undergoing VMMC. Six-step thematic analysis incorporating inductive and deductive approaches was used to interpret interview responses. A total of 457 MSM completed the pre-VMMC survey, 115 circumcised MSM completed post-VMMC surveys, and 30 MSM completed an interview. Main barriers to VMMC uptake were concerns about pain, length of wound healing, cost, lack of knowledge about or misconceptions of VMMC, and stigma related to surgery. Facilitators to VMMC could be categorized as internal factors (foreskin) and external factors (motivation and follow-up care). Interestingly, the VMMC experiences of others could be transformed from a barrier into a facilitator to VMMC in some circumstances. After VMMC participants transitioned from a negative state of pain, remorse, difficulty sleeping, and discomfort to a positive state of symptom alleviation and personal hygiene improvement. Optimizing facilitators and addressing barriers may encourage VMMC among MSM. Joint efforts should be made by relevant stakeholders to improve the awareness and uptake of VMMC among MSM.

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Article Details

Title:
Barriers and Facilitators to, and Experience of, Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision Among Men Who Have Sex with Men in China: A Mixed-Methods Study.

Author(s):
Sun Y; He L; Gao Y; Fitzpatrick T; Zhang W; Yang L; Fu L; Luo S; Zou H

Summary:
The study looked at why men who have sex with men (MSM) might want or not want to do voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC) to help prevent HIV. They found that some people were afraid of pain, cost, and healing time, but others thought it helped with personal hygiene. It's important to help people understand VMMC better so more MSM might choose to have the procedure.

Meta:
pubmed id: 37296334 Indexed on February 9th, 2025

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Abstract

It has been identified that rural young people face barriers to accessing support for their sexual well-being such as availability and transport, knowing healthcare staff personally, and fear of being judged negatively within their community. These factors may contribute to widening health inequalities and expose young people living in rural areas to increased risk of poor sexual well-being. Little is known about the current needs of adolescents residing in remote rural island communities (RRICs).

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Article Details

Title:
Sexual well-being among young people in remote rural island communities in Scotland: a mixed methods study.

Author(s):
MacGilleEathain R; Smith T; Steele I

Summary:
Young people in rural areas have trouble getting help for their sexual health because of problems like transportation and knowing the healthcare staff personally. They might also worry about others judging them. This can make health problems worse for these young people.

Meta:
pubmed id: 37295934 Indexed on February 9th, 2025

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Abstract

Job satisfaction is an important factor influencing work performance, personal well-being, commitment and retention. The working environment influences job satisfaction. The design of the birthing room could influence the practice of midwives and their satisfaction. This study investigates whether the alternative design of the birthing room implemented in the randomized controlled trial 'Be-Up' (Birth environment-Upright position) has an impact on job satisfaction of midwives.

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Article Details

Title:
Influence of the birthing room design on midwives' job satisfaction - A cross-sectional online survey embedded in the 'Be-Up' study.

Author(s):
Wangler S; Simon A; Meyer G; Ayerle GM

Summary:
This study looks at how the design of a special birthing room might affect how happy midwives are with their jobs. It checks if a different birthing room design makes midwives more satisfied.

Meta:
pubmed id: 37295182 Indexed on February 9th, 2025

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Abstract

To explore women's experience of freebirth, as giving birth without the presence of a skilled healthcare professional such as a midwife.

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Article Details

Title:
Freebirth, the only option for women who do not fit into common practice- A Swedish national interview study.

Author(s):
Johansson M; Jansson O; Lilja F; Ekéus C; Volgsten H

Summary:
This research looks at how women feel about giving birth without a midwife or doctor, called freebirth. It aims to understand their experiences and reasons for choosing this way to have a baby.

Meta:
pubmed id: 37295181 Indexed on February 9th, 2025

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Abstract

Rural women in Australia are more likely than urban women to experience unintended pregnancy, yet little is known about how this issue is managed in a rural health setting. To address this gap, we conducted in-depth interviews with 20 women from rural New South Wales (NSW) about their unintended pregnancy. Participants were asked about accessing healthcare services and what was uniquely rural about their experience. The framework method was used to conduct an inductive thematic analysis. Four themes emerged from the data: (1) fragmented and opaque healthcare pathways, (2) a limited number of willing rural practitioners, (3) small town culture and community ties and (4) interrelated challenges of distance, travel and money. Our findings highlight how pervasive structural issues related to accessibility of health services intersect with small-town culture to create compounding obstacles for rural women, especially those seeking an abortion. This study is relevant to other countries with similar geographies and models of rural healthcare. Our findings point to the necessity for comprehensive reproductive health services including abortion to be an essential - not optional - part of healthcare in rural Australia.

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Article Details

Title:
"Almost like it was really underground": a qualitative study of women's experiences locating services for unintended pregnancy in a rural Australian health system.

Author(s):
Noonan A; Black KI; Luscombe GM; Tomnay J

Summary:
The study found that rural women in Australia face many difficulties when dealing with unintended pregnancies. They have trouble finding healthcare services and support due to long distances, few doctors, and small-town culture. The research suggests that rural areas need better access to reproductive health services, like abortion.

Meta:
pubmed id: 37294446 Indexed on February 9th, 2025

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Abstract

This article develops the concept of "menstrual justice". The legal scholar Margaret E. Johnson has developed an expansive approach to menstrual justice incorporating rights, justice, and a framework for intersectional analysis, with a focus on the US. This framework provides a welcome alternative to the constrictive and medicalised approaches often taken towards menstruation. However, the framework is silent on several issues pertaining to menstruation in Global South contexts. This article therefore develops the concept of menstrual justice in order to extend its relevance beyond the Global North. It presents the findings of mixed-methods research conducted in April 2019 in the mid-western region of Nepal, particularly concerning the practice of , an extreme form of menstrual restriction. We conducted a quantitative survey of 400 adolescent girls and eight focus group discussions, four with adolescent girls and four with adult women. Our findings confirm that dignity in menstruation requires addressing pain management, security issues, and mental health, plus structural issues including economic disadvantage, environmental issues, criminal law, and education.

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Article Details

Title:
Developing the menstrual justice agenda: insights from a mixed method study in the mid-western region of Nepal.

Author(s):
Amery F; Channon M; Puri MC; Thomson J

Summary:
This paper talks about "menstrual justice" and how important it is. The researchers studied girls and women in Nepal to better understand what they need during their periods, like handling pain and feeling safe. They found that it's about more than just health; it also involves treating them fairly and helping with things like education and the environment.

Meta:
pubmed id: 37294332 Indexed on February 9th, 2025

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Abstract

Pandemic mitigation measures can have a negative impact on access and provision of essential healthcare services including sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services. This rapid review looked at the literature on the impact of COVID-19 mitigation measures on SRH and gender-based violence (GBV) on women in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) using WHO rapid review guidance. We looked at relevant literature published in the English language from January 2020 to October 2021 from LMICs using WHO rapid review methods. A total of 114 articles were obtained from PubMed, Google Scholar and grey literature of which 20 met the eligible criteria. Our review found that there was an overall reduction in; (a) uptake of services as shown by lower antenatal, postnatal and family planning clinic attendance, (b) service delivery as shown by reduced health facility deliveries, and post abortion care services and (c) reproductive health outcomes as shown by an increase in incidence of GBV especially intimate partner violence. COVID-19 mitigation measures negatively impact SRH of women in LMICs. Findings from this review could inform policy makers in the health sector to recognise the potential adverse effects of COVID-19 responses on SRH in the country, and therefore implement mitigation measures.

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Article Details

Title:
The impact of COVID-19 mitigation measures on sexual and reproductive health in low- and middle-income countries: a rapid review.

Author(s):
Ochola E; Andhavarapu M; Sun P; Mohiddin A; Ferdinand O; Temmerman M

Summary:
The research found that COVID-19 safety measures made it harder for women in some countries to get important health services like pregnancy care and family planning. There was also more violence against women during this time. The study suggests that leaders should think about these effects when deciding on safety rules.

Meta:
pubmed id: 37294328 Indexed on February 9th, 2025

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Abstract

No conclusions have been reached on whether female stress urinary incontinence (SUI) and related treatments affect male partners' sexual function.

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Article Details

Title:
Impact of female stress urinary incontinence and related treatments on the sexual function of male partners: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Author(s):
Tian Z; Wang X; Fu L; Du Z; Sun Z

Summary:
The research does not yet know if treatments for a problem called SUI, which some women have, change how their male partners feel about sex. They are still trying to find out more about this topic.

Meta:
pubmed id: 37291077 Indexed on February 9th, 2025

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Abstract

Mindfulness-based therapies (MBTs) are frequently used in the treatment of sexual dysfunctions. So far, there has not been sufficient evidence for the effectiveness of interventions based on mindfulness monotherapy.

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Article Details

Title:
Assessment of the effect of mindfulness monotherapy on sexual dysfunction symptoms and sex-related quality of life in women.

Author(s):
Jąderek I; Obarska K; Lew-Starowicz M

Summary:
Mindfulness-based therapies are often used to help with problems related to sexual functions. However, there is not enough proof yet that using only mindfulness without other treatments works well for these issues.

Meta:
pubmed id: 37287733 Indexed on February 9th, 2025

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Abstract

Prostate cancer (PCa) is the second-most frequently diagnosed oncologic condition among biological men, affecting physical and psychological well-being, as well as sexual health and quality of life. Prior research has shown that cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) can be effective in addressing a range of psychological and sexual problems but also in improving the sexual and mental health of survivors of PCa.

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Article Details

Title:
A systematic review on the efficacy of CBT interventions for the mental and sexual health of survivors of prostate cancer.

Author(s):
Pieramico S; Castro R; Aguiar S; Bismarck F; Ferreira D; Carvalho J; Quinta Gomes AL; Nobre P

Summary:
Prostate cancer is a common disease in men that can make them feel sick and unhappy. Research shows that a type of talking therapy called cognitive-behavioral therapy can help men with prostate cancer feel better mentally and improve their sexual health.

Meta:
pubmed id: 37286525 Indexed on February 9th, 2025

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Abstract

Sexual minority young persons may be at risk for compounding mental health effects of the COVID-19 pandemic due to their existing vulnerabilities for psychological inequities. Indeed, recent research has documented that sexual minority young persons are experiencing compounding psychiatric effects associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. Further, researchers and practitioners hypothesized that sexual minority youth and young adults may experience unique hardships related to their sexual and gender identities and familial conflict as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and living arrangement changes with their parents and families. This study aims to investigate whether there are changes in sexual minority (and non-sexual minority) young adults' (SMYAs) mental health and wellbeing among those living with and living without their parents before and after the start of COVID-19. Among a cross-sectional sample of SMYAs (n=294; M=22 years; age range=18-26) and non-SMYAs (n=874; M=22 years; age range=18-26) defined by whether they were living with or living without their parents before and after the start of COVID-19, we retrospectively analyzed changes in psychological distress and wellbeing. SMYAs who returned to their parents' homes during post-onset of COVID-19 reported greater mental distress and lower wellbeing, followed by those who were living with their parents both before and after the start of COVID-19. Patterns were not consistent among non-SMYAs, and lower magnitudes of change were seen. There is a significant public health need for mental health services and family education resources for supporting SMYAs in the context of COVID-19 and beyond.

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Article Details

Title:
Changes in Mental Health and Well-Being Are Associated With Living Arrangements With Parents During COVID-19 Among Sexual Minority Young Persons in the U.S.

Author(s):
Salerno JP; Doan L; Sayer LC; Drotning KJ; Rinderknecht RG; Fish JN

Summary:
The study found that young people who identify as a sexual minority had more mental health problems during COVID-19, especially if they lived with their parents. These problems were bigger for those who moved back home due to the pandemic. This means there's a big need for mental health help and family education for these young people.

Meta:
pubmed id: 37283818 Indexed on February 9th, 2025

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Abstract

Based on national surveillance data, we describe an unprecedented increase in syphilis case reports in Japan, with a surge in 2021-2022 reaching 10141 cases in Week 42, 2022, a 1.7-fold increase over the same period in 2021. This already represented the highest annual case count in nearly half a century; by Week 52, 2022, the number reached 12 966, far surpassing the 7978 cases in 2021. Predominantly affecting heterosexual men and young women, the proportionate increase in primary and secondary syphilis cases suggests a true increase in incidence. The syphilis surge during the pandemic poses a serious public health concern and underscores the importance of adequate testing and preventive measures.

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Article Details

Title:
Unprecedented increase in syphilis cases among heterosexual men and women in Japan, 2021-2022.

Author(s):
Kasamatsu A; Takahashi T; Arima Y; Otsuka M; Arashiro T; Ito H; Tabata S; Yamagishi T; Suzuki M

Summary:
There were a lot more cases of syphilis in Japan during 2021 and 2022, with over 12,000 cases reported in 2022. This big increase in cases is a public health concern and shows the need for more testing and prevention.

Meta:
pubmed id: 37282345 Indexed on February 9th, 2025

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Abstract

Hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD) is characterized by persistently low desire and associated distress. Low desire is one of the most common sexual complaints among men and is associated with poor well-being. Interpersonal factors are key to understanding low desire, yet there are few dyadic studies of HSDD in men. Previous work on genito-pelvic pain and low desire in women has established that greater facilitative (eg, affectionate) partner responses are associated with greater sexual satisfaction and function and that more negative (eg, critical) or solicitous (eg, sympathetic, avoidant) partner responses are associated with lower sexual satisfaction and function. Examining how partner responses are associated with adjustment to HSDD may shed light on the interpersonal dynamics of this understudied sexual dysfunction.

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Article Details

Title:
Partner responses to low desire among couples coping with male hypoactive sexual desire disorder and associations with sexual well-being.

Author(s):
Belu CF; Corsini-Munt S; Dubé JP; Wang GA; Rosen NO

Summary:
Some men have a problem called HSDD, where they don't feel much desire for sex and it makes them upset. How their partner acts, like being nice or critical, can change how happy they feel with their relationship and sex life. Studying these partner interactions might help us understand more about HSDD.

Meta:
pubmed id: 37280187 Indexed on February 9th, 2025

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Abstract

Sexual dysfunction is thought to be highly prevalent in patients with psychiatric disorders. Factors such as the use of psychotropic substances (ie, psychopharmaceuticals and drugs), age, or somatic diseases may contribute to sexual problems, but the extent to which psychopathology itself affects sexual functioning is not well understood.

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Article Details

Title:
Sexual dysfunction related to psychiatric disorders: a systematic review.

Author(s):
Herder T; Spoelstra SK; Peters AWM; Knegtering H

Summary:
Some people with mental health problems might also have trouble with their sexual health. Things like taking certain medicines, getting older, or having other illnesses can make these problems worse, but it's not clear if the mental health issues alone cause these sexual problems.

Meta:
pubmed id: 37279603 Indexed on February 9th, 2025

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Abstract

As perception of penile curvature varies widely, we sought to understand how adults perceive curvature and how these opinions compare with those of patients with curvature, specifically Peyronie's disease (PD).

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Article Details

Title:
Do patients with Peyronie's disease perceive penile curvature in adults and children differently than the general population?

Author(s):
Henry AJ; Holler JT; Lui J; Breyer BN; Ziegelmann M; Cohen T; Smith RP; Yeaman C; Winkelman AJ; Villanueva C; Kern NG

Summary:
This study looks at how different people see bent penises and compares this with how patients with Peyronie's disease, a condition that causes penis curvature, see it. They wanted to understand if everyone sees the curves the same way.

Meta:
pubmed id: 37279444 Indexed on February 9th, 2025

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Abstract

Preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is effective in preventing human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection among sexual and gender minorities (SGMs). We evaluated the characteristics associated with engagement in 7 steps of the PrEP cascade among SGMs in Nigeria.

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Article Details

Title:
Determinants of Preexposure Prophylaxis Cascade Among Sexual and Gender Minorities in Nigeria.

Author(s):
Ramadhani HO; Crowell TA; Nowak RG; Adebajo S; Kayode BO; Ononaku U; Baral SD; Ndembi N; Charurat ME

Summary:
PrEP is a medicine that can stop people from getting HIV. The study looked at how well people in Nigeria follow the steps to use PrEP. They wanted to see how sexual and gender minority groups use it.

Meta:
pubmed id: 37277897 Indexed on February 9th, 2025

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Abstract

This study was designed to investigate the seroepidemiology of and identify factors associated with exposure to Chlamydia trachomatis ( C. trachomatis ) in fertility treatment-seeking patients in Abu Dhabi Emirate, United Arab Emirates.

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Article Details

Title:
Chlamydia trachomatis Seroepidemiology and Associated Factors in Fertility Treatment-Seeking Patients in the Abu Dhabi Emirate, United Arab Emirates.

Author(s):
Abdo NM; Aslam I; Irfan S; George JA; Alsuwaidi AR; Ahmed LA; Al-Rifai RH

Summary:
This study looked at how common a germ called Chlamydia trachomatis is in people who are trying to get help to have babies in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. It also tried to find out what might make people more likely to be exposed to this germ.

Meta:
pubmed id: 37277894 Indexed on February 9th, 2025

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Abstract

By reducing HIV viral load to undetectable levels, HIV treatment slows disease progression and eliminates the possibility of sexual transmission. The promotion of undetectable viral load has also been accompanied by expectations of reducing HIV-related stigma, including self-stigma. Drawing on accounts of people recently diagnosed with HIV, we explored experiences of both detectable and undetectable viral load.

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Article Details

Title:
'It's like I have this weird superpower': experiences of detectable and undetectable viral load among a cohort of recently diagnosed people living with HIV.

Author(s):
Wells N; Philpot S; Murphy D; Ellard J; Howard C; Prestage G

Summary:
HIV treatment can make the virus levels really low so it can't spread and helps people stay healthier. Some people hope that this helps reduce the negative feelings or stigma around having HIV. This study looked at how people with HIV feel about having either detectable or undetectable virus levels.

Meta:
pubmed id: 37277830 Indexed on February 9th, 2025

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Abstract

Survivors of unwanted sexual contact have an increased likelihood of using substances in sexual situations, which puts them at heightened risk for intoxication-related harms. Separately, research has indicated that women may intentionally use substances in sexual situations to either enhance pleasure (i.e., increase sexual excitation) and/or reduce sexual anxiety or shame (i.e., reduce sexual inhibition), a phenomenon termed sex-linked substance use (SLSU). A predominant assumption in the literature is that women with unwanted sex histories are more likely to disengage during sex, suggesting greater inhibition-related SLSU; however, there is little prior research directly examining if women who have unwanted sex histories primarily engage in SLSU to increase sexual excitation or decrease inhibitions. We conducted exploratory analyses of an online survey in a convenience sample of 516 undergraduate women including data on their history of unwanted sex, SLSU, and sexual excitation/inhibition. Sexual excitation mediated the association between a history of unwanted sexual contact and SLSU, suggesting that women with unwanted sexual histories reported higher levels of sexual excitation, which in turn was associated with a higher likelihood of using substances to increase pleasure during sexual activity. Specifically, arousability, partner characteristics, and power dynamics subfactors were significant mediators. Sexual inhibition did not mediate the relationship between a history of unwanted sexual contact and SLSU, suggesting that women with unwanted sex histories may have been less likely to use substances to reduce sexual inhibitions. If replicated, these findings suggest that sexual excitation may be a useful target of intervention surrounding SLSU, particularly in women with histories of unwanted sexual contact. Specifically, treatments targeting cognitive and affective tendencies associated with sexual excitation may help women who engage in SLSU to have safe, pleasurable sexual activity, without increasing the risk of intoxication-related harms.

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Article Details

Title:
Higher sexual excitation is associated with an increase in sex-linked substance use in women with a history of unwanted sexual contact.

Author(s):
Jones HR; Lorenz TK

Summary:
Women who have experienced unwanted sexual contact might use substances to make sexual situations more enjoyable. They tend to use these substances to feel more excited during sex rather than to reduce their worries or fears. This finding could help in creating treatments that make sexual activities safer and more enjoyable for these women.

Meta:
pubmed id: 37274840 Indexed on February 9th, 2025

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Abstract

Despite its growing prevalence, BDSM practice (bondage, discipline, dominance, submission, and sadomasochism) is still stigmatized, and little is known about the physical marks and injuries that individuals sustain from consensual BDSM-related activities.

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Article Details

Title:
An exploration of marks/injuries related to BDSM sexual experiences.

Author(s):
Drouin M; Hernandez E; Machette A; Garcia JR; Boyd RL

Summary:
Some people like to do something called BDSM, which includes tying up, playing roles, and other activities for fun. Even though more people are doing it, many still judge or don't understand it. There isn’t much information about the marks or injuries people get from this.

Meta:
pubmed id: 37273891 Indexed on February 9th, 2025

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Abstract

Monosexuality and bisexuality (attraction to one and more than one gender/sex, respectively) are historical constructs, as are monomodal (e.g., gender/sex-based) and multimodal concepts of erotic attraction. I provide a brief outline of distinctions between single-gender and multi-gender attractions as they emerged in continental Europe. Nineteenth-century conceptualizations of sexual orientation in terms of gender-exclusivity were animated by medical frames for socio-sexual disfavor and aversion. From the early 1880s bisexuality became framed as a stage of "sexual inversion," and, from 1891, associated with notions of gender-independent attraction to particular "types." German and Dutch surveys reported in 1904 were pivotal in popularizing and internationalizing bisexual interest as a sexological intrigue.

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Article Details

Title:
Monosexual/Plurisexual: A Concise History.

Author(s):
Janssen DF

Summary:
The paper talks about how being attracted to one gender or more than one is a concept that has changed over time. In the 1800s, people in Europe started thinking about these attractions, and ideas about bisexuality became popular through studies in Germany and the Netherlands.

Meta:
pubmed id: 37272900 Indexed on February 9th, 2025

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Abstract

Emotional congruence with children (ECWC) is a psychologically meaningful risk factor for sexual offending against children (SOC). Based on previous research and theory, three models have been proposed to explain ECWC: Blockage, Sexual Domain, and Psychological Immaturity. Using structural equation modelling in a routine correctional sample of men adjudicated for sexual offences ( = 983), we found little support for all three of these models. Instead, we found that atypical sexual interests, alone, best explained ECWC, with a moderate relationship to ECWC. Using the predictors associated with each of the three models of ECWC, we identified three classes of men with a history of SOC who are high in ECWC using latent class analyses ( = 377). These three classes generally did not replicate the three models of ECWC. We instead propose three subgroups of men with histories of SOC who are high in ECWC, characterized respectively by: relationship deficits; youth and loneliness; and high sexual and general criminality. High levels of ECWC are predictive of a higher risk of sexual recidivism, regardless of class association; however, these subgroups are differentially at risk for some types of recidivism. Our findings suggest that ECWC is a multi-faceted construct, which is still not well understood.

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Article Details

Title:
Emotional Congruence with Children: An Empirical Examination of Different Models in Men with a History of Sexually Offending Against Children.

Author(s):
Fraser JM; Babchishin KM; Helmus LM

Summary:
Researchers looked at why some people might commit sexual crimes against children. They found that strange sexual interests, not the other ideas they tested, best explained why someone might have emotions similar to children. They also found three groups with different reasons for these feelings, and these groups had different risks of doing bad things again.

Meta:
pubmed id: 37272074 Indexed on February 9th, 2025

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Abstract

Although there is a presumption that LGBTQ+ people living in rural Australia will have poorer health outcomes than those living in metropolitan areas, minimal research has focused specifically on the perspectives of transgender and gender diverse (henceforth referred to as 'trans') people living in these regions. The purpose of this study was to understand what health and wellbeing means to trans people in a regional or rural community and identify their health needs and experiences.

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Article Details

Title:
Understanding the health care needs of transgender and gender diverse people engaging with rural Australian sexual health centres: a qualitative interview study.

Author(s):
Del Tufo A; Foster R; Haire B; Newman CE; Smith AKJ; Crowley M; Burn D; McNulty A

Summary:
The study looked at the health needs and experiences of transgender people living in rural Australia to see what health and wellbeing means to them. It wanted to find out if their health is different from people living in big cities.

Meta:
pubmed id: 37271580 Indexed on February 9th, 2025

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Abstract

Despite the global emphasis on breastfeeding, exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) in the first six months of life still lag behind the global recommendations in low- and middle-income countries, such as Nepal. This systematic review aims to determine the prevalence of EBF in the first six months of life and the associated factors determining EBF practices in Nepal. The databases PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, MIDIRS, DOAJ, and the NepJOL were searched for peer-reviewed literature published up to December 2021. The JBI quality appraisal checklist was used to assess the quality of studies. Analyses were performed by pooling together studies using the random-effect model, and the I test was used to assess the heterogeneity of the included studies. A total of 340 records were found, out of which 59 full-text were screened. Finally, 28 studies met the inclusion criteria and were selected for analysis. The pooled prevalence of EBF was 43 % (95 % confidence interval: 34-53). The odds ratio for the type of delivery was 1.59 (1.24-2.05), for ethnic minority groups 1.33 (1.02-1.75) and for first-birth order 1.89 (1.33-2.67). We found a lower prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding practice in Nepal compared to the national target. Multifaceted, effective, evidence-based interventions would encourage individuals in the exclusive breastfeeding journey. Incorporating the BEF counselling component into Nepal's existing maternal health counselling package may help promote exclusive breastfeeding practice. Further research to explore the reasons for the suboptimal level of EBF practice would help develop the targeted interventions pragmatically.

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Article Details

Title:
The prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding practice in the first six months of life and its associated factors in Nepal: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Author(s):
Wasti SP; Shrestha A; Dhakal P; Gc VS

Summary:
Many babies in Nepal aren't being breastfed exclusively for the first six months, which is less than what's recommended. Researchers looked at a lot of studies and found that only 43% of babies are breastfed this way. They suggest better education and support to help more families follow these recommendations.

Meta:
pubmed id: 37269619 Indexed on February 9th, 2025

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Abstract

Somaliland has one of the highest rates of maternal deaths in the world. An estimated 732 women die for every 100,000 live births. This study aims to identify the prevalence of facility-based maternal deaths, the causes and their underlying circumstances by interviewing relatives and health care providers at the main referral hospital.

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Article Details

Title:
Facility-based maternal deaths: Their prevalence, causes and underlying circumstances. A mixed method study from the national referral hospital of Somaliland.

Author(s):
Ali Egal J; Essa A; Osman F; Klingberg-Allvin M; Erlandsson K

Summary:
Somaliland has many mothers who die when having babies, with 732 women dying for every 100,000 births. This study talks to family members and doctors to find out why so many mothers are dying at a big hospital.

Meta:
pubmed id: 37269618 Indexed on February 9th, 2025

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Abstract

Objective Structured Clinical Assessment (OSCA) is a way of evaluating students or clinicians in how they are carrying out their duties. The aim of this study was to examine how midwifery educators in Bangladesh perceived using OSCA as an assessment device in midwifery education for student performance in life-saving midwifery interventions.

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Article Details

Title:
Midwife Educators' perceptions of the efficacy of the Objective Structured clinical assessment of life-saving interventions - a qualitative interview study in Bangladesh.

Author(s):
Borneskog C; Engström G; Islam N; Byrskog U; Pedersen C; Stromsöe A; Erlandsson K

Summary:
This study looked at what midwifery teachers in Bangladesh think about using OSCA, a test to see how well students perform life-saving tasks for mothers and babies.

Meta:
pubmed id: 37267736 Indexed on February 9th, 2025

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Abstract

Gender transition is undertaken to improve the well-being of people suffering from gender dysphoria. However, some have argued that the evidence supporting medical interventions for gender transition (e.g., hormonal therapies and surgery) is weak and inconclusive, and an increasing number of people have come forward recently to share their experiences of transition regret and detransition. In this essay, I discuss emerging clinical and research issues related to transition regret and detransition with the aim of arming clinicians with the latest information so they can support patients navigating the challenges of regret and detransition. I begin by describing recent changes in the epidemiology of gender dysphoria, conceptualization of transgender identification, and models of care. I then discuss the potential impact of these changes on regret and detransition; the prevalence of desistance, regret, and detransition; reasons for detransition; and medical and mental healthcare needs of detransitioners. Although recent data have shed light on a complex range of experiences that lead people to detransition, research remains very much in its infancy. Little is known about the medical and mental healthcare needs of these patients, and there is currently no guidance on best practices for clinicians involved in their care. Moreover, the term detransition can hold a wide array of possible meanings for transgender-identifying people, detransitioners, and researchers, leading to inconsistences in its usage. Moving forward, minimizing harm will require conducting robust research, challenging fundamental assumptions, scrutinizing of practice patterns, and embracing debate.

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Article Details

Title:
Transition Regret and Detransition: Meanings and Uncertainties.

Author(s):
Jorgensen SCJ

Summary:
The paper talks about why some people might regret their gender transition and decide to go back. It says that we need to learn more about why this happens and how doctors can help these people better. Right now, there isn’t a lot of information about what’s best for their care.

Meta:
pubmed id: 37266795 Indexed on February 9th, 2025

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Abstract

Young sexual minoritized people report elevated rates of sexual violence in comparison to their heterosexual peers. This health disparity is largest among lesbian and bisexual people, and in particular bisexual women. We know little about what drives this health disparity, which is critically necessary information for developing effective sexual violence interventions. Recently, sexual stigma has been identified as an important factor related to sexual victimization among sexual minoritized people. The current paper details a concurrent mixed-method study investigating what factors contribute to young lesbian and bisexual people's vulnerability for experiencing sexual violence, and in particular the similarities and differences between these two groups. We conducted a survey with 328 participants to investigate the quantitative relationships between sexual stigma and experience of sexual violence. A subset of 25 survey participants with a history of sexual victimization also engaged in qualitative interviews about their experience of violence. Primary quantitative findings indicate that sexual stigma significantly predicts a greater likelihood of reporting an experience of sexual violence among bisexual people, and to a lesser degree, lesbian people. Qualitative findings support the development of a theoretical model that describes how intersectional experiences of marginalization across individual, interpersonal, and societal levels interact to increase vulnerability for sexual violence.

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Article Details

Title:
Exploring Potential Determinants of Sexual Victimization Disparities Among Young Sexual Minoritized People: A Mixed-Method Study.

Author(s):
Flanders CE; VanKim N; Anderson RE; Tarasoff LA

Summary:
The study looks at why young lesbian and bisexual people are more likely to experience sexual violence. Researchers found that sexual stigma, which means negative beliefs about someone's sexuality, makes this problem worse, especially for bisexual people. The study used surveys and interviews to understand how these experiences and feelings connect to the risk of violence.

Meta:
pubmed id: 39816184 Indexed on February 9th, 2025

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Abstract

Ugandan urban same-sex desiring individuals frequently encounter and navigate competing understandings of sexuality and sexual identity. Western essentialist understanding of sexual identity introduced by international development partners and transnational LGBT+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bi- and Transsexual) activism, as well as media, offer an alternative to Ugandan non-essentialist and fluid subject positions. This article seeks to understand how young individuals with same-sex -desires in Kampala navigate tensions between Western and local understandings concerning sexuality. We have interviewed 24 young individuals with same-sex desires (unaffiliated and individuals working in LGBT+ organizations) and asked how they approach their sexuality and experiences living with same-sex desires in contemporary Kampala. The results reveal how interview participants engaged in a complex navigation between local community expectations, their own same-sex desires, and embeddedness in a global LGBT+ culture. Although the participants engaged in what Westerners would label as a "double life," the article problematizes the prescriptive norms of authenticity and "coming out." The conclusion is that the fluid vs essentialist dichotomy is too simplistic to be helpful when trying to understand the lives and aspirations of young people with same-sex desires.

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Article Details

Title:
The Promise of Double Living. Understanding Young People with Same-Sex Desires in Contemporary Kampala.

Author(s):
Svensson J; Strand C

Summary:
Young people in Kampala, Uganda, who like others of the same sex, face different ideas about being gay. They try to balance what their local community thinks with ideas from Western cultures about being open about their feelings. The study shows that these young people live with different expectations and that simple labels don't really explain their lives and hopes.

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pubmed id: 37262126 Indexed on February 9th, 2025