Researchers from the Joy Project, WHO Department of Sexual and Reproductive Health, and colleagues review 33 unique interventions targeting STI/HIV risk reduction combining pleasure and eight analyses. synthetic.
They found evidence that including pleasure can have significant positive effects on information- and knowledge-based attitudes, including participants’ confidence in behavior change and motivation to use condoms, as well as in condom use and behavior.
While the authors looked for interventions in a wide range of sexual health interventions (including contraceptives and family planning), the review ultimately included only programs involving related to STI/HIV targets populations traditionally considered ‘vulnerable’.
The researchers note that future work is needed to combine and evaluate interventions that deliver joy in the reproductive health space and for populations at large.
Pleasure has been despised and stigmatized in health promotion and sex education, even though it is clearly linked to sexual health and well-being..
This systematic review and meta-analysis suggests that including sexual pleasure considerations in sexual and reproductive health services will improve condom use and thus may also improve sexual and reproductive health outcomes.
Policymakers and program managers should readily acknowledge that pleasure is a major driver of sexual behavior and that its incorporation in sexual and reproductive health services can reduce adverse results.
Source: Medindia
