Sexual and reproductive health needs of young people living with HIV in low- and middle-income countries: a scoping review

Abstract

Background Young people living with HIV(YPLWH) in low-and middle-income countries are entering adolescence and young adulthood in significant numbers. The majority of the HIV-related research on these young people has focused on clinical outcomes with less emphasis on their sexual and reproductive health (SRH). There is an increasing awareness of the importance of understanding and addressing their SRH needs, as many are at elevated risk of transmitting HIV to their sexual partners and young women, in particular, are at significant risk for transmitting HIV to their infants. The purpose of this scoping review is to synthesize research investigating the SRH needs of young people living with HIV in low- and middle-income countries. Methods We searched electronic databases for studies focusing on young people aged 10–24 years and 27 studies met inclusion criteria. Results This review identified four themes characterizing research on SRH among young people living with HIV: knowledge of SRH, access to SRH services, sexual practices, and future family planning and childrearing. Conclusions Our findings suggest a need for additional research on comprehensive sexuality education to equip YPLWH with knowledge to facilitate desirable SRH outcomes, interventions on sero-status disclosure and condom use, and health provider capacity to provide SRH services in their pre-existing HIV clinical care.

Withdrawn: Knowledge and Opinions of Turkish University Students Regarding the Use of Contraceptive Methods: A Qualitative Study

“…During this period, as young people try to accommodate themselves to their changing and sexually maturing bodies, they begin to identify and discover their sexual attitudes and values, and also begin to experience sexual activity. Therefore, tendencies toward risky sexual behavior also increase (Mkumba et al 2021;Yaşar et al 2019;Siyez et al 2018). Risky sexual behavior encompasses various dangerous behaviors such as premarital sex, multiple sexual partners, and unprotected sex (Srahbzu and Tirfeneh 2020).…”

“…Risky sexual behavior encompasses various dangerous behaviors such as premarital sex, multiple sexual partners, and unprotected sex (Srahbzu and Tirfeneh 2020). Unintended pregnancies, unsafe abortions, and HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) can occur due to these behaviors (Mkumba et al 2021; Ewunetie et al 2022). According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 10 million girls aged 15 to 19, mostly from low-and middle-income countries, become pregnant unwillingly every year and 3.9 million girls undergo unsafe abortions (WHO 2020).…”

“I am not shy anymore”: A qualitative study of the role of an interactive mHealth intervention on sexual health knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors of South African adolescents with perinatal HIV

“…Health policy has largely overlooked social health inequities among APHIV [ 5 ], who face unique risks related to their sexual and reproductive health (SRH) [ 7 ]. A 2021 scoping review identified gaps for APHIV pertaining to knowledge of SRH and access to SRH services, high rates of risky sexual practices, and low family planning uptake [ 8 ], leading to higher rates of unintended pregnancy than their HIV-negative counterparts [ 9 ]. Preventing the population-level spread of HIV requires expanding access to SRH resources and education for youth worldwide, especially South African APHIV [ 10 ].…”

Medical perspective of reproductive health education in Indonesian schoolbooks

“…( 26 ); (2) The ABC of prevention should be known by students with abstinence as the best choice to prevent STIs. It has to be emphasized that using a condom in ABC prevention is regarded as “safer sex,” but not “safe sex” ( 32 ), so teenagers are not encouraged to have sexual relations that seem safe and problem-free; (3) An effective prevention strategy across multiple sectors should be implemented, including the health care system, educational, social, and policy ( 33 ).…”