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Sexual Health Sexual Health Society
Publishing on sexual health from the widest perspective
Table of Contents
   
Sexual Health

Sexual Health

Volume 21 Number 6 2024

SH24112Preferences for the delivery of early abortion services in Australia: a discrete choice experiment

Jody Church 0000-0001-9584-8431, Marion Haas, Deborah J. Street, Deborah Bateson 0000-0003-1035-7110 and Danielle Mazza

There is limited understanding of the preferences of the general public for the provision of early abortion services, including surgical and early medical abortion. Discrete choice experiments are an ideal means to investigate the preferences for abortion services in Australia. There is a pressing need for increased education and awareness regarding the types of abortion services available and the range of healthcare providers capable of delivering safe and effective abortion services.

SH24173Comparing the impact of sexualised drug use with and without chemsex on sexual behaviours among men who have sex with men in China: a national multi-site cross-sectional study

Jiajun Sun 0000-0001-5529-6660, Bingyang She, Phyu M. Latt, Jason J. Ong 0000-0001-5784-7403, Xianglong Xu, Yining Bao, Christopher K. Fairley 0000-0001-9081-1664, Lin Zhang, Weiming Tang 0000-0002-9026-707X and Lei Zhang 0000-0003-2343-084X

This study examined how drug use during sex affects sexual behaviours among men who have sex with men in China. Through a nationwide survey of 796 participants, we found that men who used specific psychoactive drugs during sex (chemsex) showed different patterns compared to other groups. They reported more sexual partners, engaged in a wider variety of sexual activities, and showed distinct patterns of sequential sexual behaviours. These findings help identify risks and inform targeted health interventions.

SH24101Comparison of IgG serum antibodies, electronic health records and self-report in estimating past infection with Chlamydia trachomatis in a cohort of men who have sex with men

Mary Bridget Waters 0000-0001-5624-5443, Lindley A. Barbee 0000-0002-7189-5492, Kevin Hybiske, Katherine Newman, Ren Ikeda, Angela LeClair, Matthew R. Golden, Olusegun O. Soge, Lisa E. Manhart and Christine M. Khosropour

The best method for measuring a history of Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) infections is unknown. We examined the reliability of three methods as markers of past CT infections: IgG serum antibodies, the electronic health record (EHR) and self-report. Self-report may be more reliable than the EHR when determining past CT infections in some contexts, whereas serum antibodies measured using newer seroassays can capture asymptomatic and/or undiagnosed infections.

PrEP has been attributed to increased rates of STIs due to condomless anal sex, but little is known about how gay, bisexual and queer men (GBQM) perceive PrEP and STIs and how these perceptions influence sexual behaviours. This study is the first longitudinal qualitative research that explores the experiences and attitudes of GBQM using PrEP in Canada. Understanding GBQM’s perspectives can inform the development of more effective strategies to promote safer sexual practices and mitigate the spread of STIs within and beyond GBQM communities.

SH24018Prescribing pre-exposure prophylaxis for HIV prevention: a cross-sectional survey of general practitioners in Australia

Jason Wu 0009-0002-6175-5784, Christopher K. Fairley 0000-0001-9081-1664, Daniel Grace 0000-0002-9032-3959, Benjamin R. Bavinton 0000-0001-5834-8278, Doug Fraser, Curtis Chan 0000-0002-9581-1011, Eric P. F. Chow 0000-0003-1766-0657 and Jason J. Ong 0000-0001-5784-7403

Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is a medication used to stop people from acquiring the HIV virus and is a key part of reducing HIV rates worldwide. We investigated the Australian GP perspective on PrEP, and found half of our participants lacked knowledge on PrEP, half were not confident prescribing it, and key barriers were difficulty identifying suitable patients and lack of time. GPs need support to provide PrEP, with paid training and Medicare item numbers that encourage PrEP prescribing.

SH24137Sexual health in an aging world: a global call to action for more resilient services for older and disabled adults

Sophia Randazzo, Suzanne Day, Isabella Kritzer, Huachun Zou 0000-0002-8161-7576, Hayley Conyers, Yoshiko Sakuma, Dan Wu 0000-0003-0415-5467, Eneyi E. Kpokiri 0000-0003-1180-1439, Lianne Gonsalves and Joseph D. Tucker 0000-0003-2804-1181

Many sexual health services neglect older adults, defined here as people 60 years and older. Physicians sometimes assume that older adults do not have sex. This editorial describes why we should focus more on the sexual health of older adults. More research, programs, and policies are needed to support sexual health among older people.

This article belongs to the Collection Sexual health among older adults: A multi-disciplinary collection.

We found that one in four parents were aware that their child had seen pornography. Fewer than half had ever spoken to their child about pornography. Parents believe that educating children about pornography is important, but they require support to do this with their children.

SH24178Transactional sex and its associated factors among gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men in Nepal

Md. Safaet Hossain Sujan 0000-0003-0313-2423, Kiran Paudel, Kamal Gautam, Antoine Khati, Jeffrey Wickersham, Manisha Dhakal, Toan Ha and Roman Shrestha

Globally, gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM) are at higher risk for HIV and STIs due to behaviours such as condomless sex and multiple sexual partners. GBMSM engaging in transactional sex heightens the risk of these occurrences. The study examines the prevalence and factors associated with transactional sex among GBMSM in Kathmandu Valley, Nepal, revealing that 16.4% of participants engaged in transactional sex in the past 6 months. Key factors include financial dependants and police detention, whereas condomless sex was less likely among those engaging in transactional sex. The findings underscore the need for targeted sexual health interventions and policies tailored to the specific needs of this high-risk group.

SH24143Community-engaged strategies to improve sexual health services for adults aged 45 and above in the United Kingdom: a qualitative data analysis

Michel Nunez, Yoshiko Sakuma 0009-0004-3751-0837, Hayley Conyers 0000-0002-2059-0402, Suzanne Day, Fern Terris-Prestholt, Jason J. Ong 0000-0001-5784-7403, Stephen W. Pan, Tom Shakespeare, Joseph D. Tucker 0000-0003-2804-1181, Eneyi E. Kpokiri 0000-0003-1180-1439 and Dan Wu 0000-0003-0415-5467

Sexual health research and community engagement projects often focus on youth and neglect middle-aged and older adults. This research demonstrates that crowdsourcing open calls and co-creation activities focused on sexual health are feasible among middle-aged and older adults, including those with disabilities. Key findings from this study suggest that improving sexual health services for middle-aged and older adults must be addressed at various levels of healthcare service delivery.

This article belongs to the collection: Sexual health among older adults: A multi-disciplinary collection.

SH24045Stigma, support, and messaging for people recently diagnosed with HIV: a qualitative study

Loretta M. Healey 0000-0002-5718-861X, Shirin R. Markham, David J. Templeton, Lionel Rabie and Anthony K. J. Smith 0000-0002-0005-9542

Despite improvements in treatment, there remain important gaps in quality of life for people recently diagnosed with HIV. Through interviews with people diagnosed with HIV between 2016 and 2021 at a sexual health clinic in Sydney, Australia, this study aimed to understand experiences of recent diagnosis and care. Findings suggest that more opportunities for discussions about sex and dating in early years of diagnosis and checking understandings of key health messages may promote improved care and quality of life.

In the past 10 years, the prevalence of high-risk human papillomavirus infection has shown a decreasing trend, whereas the detection prevalence of cervical lesions has shown an upward trend among women in Karamay City, China. Importantly, particular emphasis should be placed on cervical cancer screening in women aged >55 years.

Sexual health service engagement among young people is important and needs may vary depending on relationship status. We explored use of five different sexual health services and found that, in general, engagement was low and those in relationships were more likely to have used services for free condoms, to start the pill, and for pregnancy testing. Healthcare and relationship and sexual education providers should encourage all young people to engage with sexual health services, whatever their relationship status.

SH23188Rising incidence of gonorrhea in Taiwan amid the COVID-19 pandemic: a nationwide surveillance study

Hsing-Yuan Chen, Yi-Hsiang Sung, Chung-Chu Chen 0000-0003-4415-7811, Shun-Long Weng, Bo-Huang Liou, Chun-Yan Yeung, Chi-Hone Lien, Chao-Hsu Lin, Hsin Chi, Liang-Yen Lin, Nan-Chang Chiu and Chien-Yu Lin 0000-0003-4630-8724

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, societal shifts prompted a retrospective study on sexually transmitted infections in Taiwan. Gonorrhea cases surged despite pandemic measures, contrasting declines in syphilis, HIV, and enterovirus during the pandemic. This highlights gonorrhea’s resilience and calls for deeper investigations into its dynamics amid crises. The study underscores the complexity of public health management during pandemics and emphasizes the importance of comprehensive surveillance.

SH24067Telehealth for HIV care and management among people living with HIV in Australia: results from an online survey

Juan Martinez-Andres 0000-0001-6661-1689, Christopher K. Fairley 0000-0001-9081-1664, Timothy Krulic, Jason J. Ong 0000-0001-5784-7403, Louise Owen, Anna McNulty 0000-0003-3174-1242, Melanie Bissessor, Caroline Thng 0000-0002-1457-1539, Charlotte Bell, Mahesh Ratnayake, Dean Murphy 0000-0003-2752-7091, Eric P. F. Chow 0000-0003-1766-0657 and Tiffany R. Phillips 0000-0001-6920-7710

As a consequence of COVID-19, sexual health clinics in Australia adopted the use of telehealth for the routine care of people living with HIV. Telehealth has been positively evaluated among this population. Hybrid models between in-person and telehealth conjunction were suggested for the future care model.

SH23149Co-creation and community engagement in implementation research with vulnerable populations: a co-creation process in China

Liyuan Zhang, Katherine T. Li, Tong Wang, Danyang Luo, Rayner K. J. Tan, Gifty Marley, Weiming Tang 0000-0002-9026-707X, Rohit Ramaswamy, Joseph D. Tucker 0000-0003-2804-1181 and Dan Wu 0000-0003-0415-5467

Co-creation is a community engagement methodology that aims to create a shared leadership role of program beneficiaries in the development and implementation of programs. We conducted a co-creation process to develop a community-engaged implementation strategy to enhance service uptake among a sexual minority sub-population in China. This paper describes the co-creation process and may help inform future co-creation practices in generating contextually appropriate public health solutions.

New Zealand has high rates of antimicrobial resistance in Mycoplasma genitalium. We correlated treatment outcomes with resistance markers and found excellent outcomes for macrolide-sensitive infections, or those without parC mutations, with first-line resistance-guided therapies. There were lower cure rates for infections with both macrolide and parC mutations, offering opportunities to refine management of M. genitalium infections.

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