Sexual health literacy among gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men: a conceptual framework for future research

McDaid, L. , Flowers, P. , Ferlatte, O., Young, I. , Patterson, S. and Gilbert, M. (2021) Sexual health literacy among gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men: a conceptual framework for future research. Culture, Health and Sexuality, 23(2), pp. 207-223. (doi: 10.1080/13691058.2019.1700307) (PMID:32118515)

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Abstract

Good sexual health requires navigating intimate relationships within diverse power dynamics and sexual cultures, coupled with the complexities of increasing biomedicalisation of sexual health. Understanding this is important for the implementation of biomedical HIV prevention. We propose a socially nuanced conceptual framework for sexual health literacy developed through a consensus building workshop with experts in the field. We use rigorous qualitative data analysis to illustrate the functionality of the framework by reference to two complementary studies. The first collected data from five focus groups (FGs) in 2012 (n = 22), with gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men aged 18–75 years and 20 in-depth interviews in 2013 with men aged 19–60 years. The second included 12 FGs in 2014/15 with 55 patients/service providers involved in the use/implementation of HIV self-testing or HIV prevention/care. Sexual health literacy goes well beyond individual health literacy and is enabled through complex community practices and multi-sectoral services. It is affected by emerging (and older) technologies and demands tailored approaches for specific groups and needs. The framework serves as a starting point for how sexual health literacy should be understood in the evaluation of sustainable and equitable implementation of biomedical sexual healthcare and prevention internationally.

Item Type:Articles
Additional Information:This research was also supported by the Chief Scientist Office (CF/CSO/02/PDF/14/12).
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:McDaid, Professor Lisa and Flowers, Professor Paul and Patterson, Mrs Susan and Young, Dr Ingrid
Authors: McDaid, L., Flowers, P., Ferlatte, O., Young, I., Patterson, S., and Gilbert, M.
College/School:College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Health & Wellbeing > MRC/CSO SPHSU
Journal Name:Culture, Health and Sexuality
Publisher:Taylor & Francis
ISSN:1369-1058
ISSN (Online):1464-5351
Published Online:02 March 2020
Copyright Holders:Copyright © 2019 The Authors
First Published:First published in Culture, Health and Sexuality 23(2): 207-223
Publisher Policy:Reproduced under a Creative Commons License

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Project CodeAward NoProject NamePrincipal InvestigatorFunder's NameFunder RefLead Dept
727631Social Relationships & Health ImprovementLisa McDaidMedical Research Council (MRC)MC_UU_12017/11HW - MRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit
727631Social Relationships & Health ImprovementLisa McDaidOffice of the Chief Scientific Adviser (CSO)SPHSU11HW - MRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit
727641Understanding and Improving Health within Settings and OrganisationsKathryn HuntMedical Research Council (MRC)MC_UU_12017/12HW - MRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit
727641Understanding and Improving Health within Settings and OrganisationsKathryn HuntOffice of the Chief Scientific Adviser (CSO)SPHSU12HW - MRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit
170578Addressing HIV literacy and inequalities in an era of biomedical HIV prevention: supporting the wellbeing of communities most affected by HIV in ScotlandIngrid YoungOffice of the Chief Scientific Adviser (CSO)PDF/14/02SHW - MRC/CSO Social & Public Health Sciences Unit