Brief sexuality communication—a behavioural intervention to advance sexually transmitted infection/HIVprevention: a systematic review

Abstract

Background Throughout the last decade substantial research has been undertaken to develop evidence-based behaviour change interventions for sexual health promotion. Primary care could provide an opportunistic entry for brief sexual health communication.Objectives We conducted a systematic review to explore opportunistic sexual and reproductive health services for sexual health communication delivered at primary health care level. Search strategyWe searched for studies on PubMed, ProQuest, CINAHL, Jstor, Scopus/Science Direct, Cochrane database of systematic reviews, EBSCO, CINAHL, PsychoInfo, and Web of Knowledge. Both published and unpublished articles were reviewed.Selection criteria All randomised controlled trials and controlled clinical trials were included. Participants of all ages, from adolescence onwards were included. Brief (10-60 minutes) interventions including some aspect of communication on sexual health issues were included.Data collection and analysis Data were extracted by two reviewers independently using a standardised form. Interventions differed from each other, hence meta-analysis was not performed, and results are presented individually.Main results A total of 247 articles were selected for full-text evaluation, 31 of which were included. Sexually transmitted infections (STIs)/HIV were less often reported in the intervention group compared with the control group. Condom use was higher in most studies in the intervention group. Numbers of sexual partners and unprotected sexual intercourse were lower in the intervention groups.Conclusions There is evidence that brief counselling interventions have some effect in the reduction and prevention of STIs/HIV. Some questions could not be answered, such as the effect over time and in different settings and population groups.

Adolescent Experiences of Clinician–Patient HIV/STI Communication in Primary Care

“…Interventions focused on improving clinician–adolescent sexual risk communication are efficacious in preventing and reducing condomless sex (Cooper, Toskin, Kulier, Allen, & Hawkes, 2014). However, less is known with respect to drug use—a behavior that parallels sexual risk behaviors—and thus, the need to examine interventions targeting multiple adolescent HIV/STI risk behaviors remains.…”

WHO guideline for brief sexuality-related communication: implications for STI/HIV policy and practice

“…The review found evidence that BSC has some effect in the reduction and prevention of STIs/HIV infection. 40 There is, however, a lack of strong evidence to answer questions about the impact of BSC on improving sexual wellbeing other than the reduction and prevention of STIs/HIV. The review found only one paper designed to address the question of whether BSC improves sexual wellbeing.…”

“…The review found only one paper designed to address the question of whether BSC improves sexual wellbeing. 40 This may reflect a lack of conceptual and methodological clarity in defining and measuring such an outcome. One study among adolescents found BSC to be helpful in increasing conversations around self-esteem and self-regulation, but the long-term sexual health outcomes of these conversations have not been documented.…”

“…Studies described the effects of these improvements in various ways and in different populations, particularly in vulnerable groups and key populations (sex workers, men who have sex with men, STI clinic attendees). 40 The benefits of the intervention outweigh the harms. While promoting the right to sexual health services that help clients to prevent and deal with STIs, BSC might also endanger them, if they become more assertive towards their sexual partners, for example about condom use.…”

Effectiveness of group counseling with Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) on sexual Satisfaction of HIV positive women and women with HIV positive husband

“…A review of clinical trials in the field of sexual health shows that most interventions have been made to reduce and prevent the transmission of sexually transmitted diseases (STD) and AIDS. It seems that there has not been a study of behavioral changes around sexual issues that affect one's self-esteem (7) and this necessitates further investigation in this regard.…”