Dataset Information

Tailoring a sexual health curriculum to the sexual health challenges seen by midwifery, nursing and medical providers and students in Tanzania.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Tanzania is a country experiencing multiple sexual health challenges, but providers receive no formal training in sexual health.

Aim

This study aimed to assess (1) what sexual health challenges are commonly seen in clinics in Tanzania, (2) which are raised by patients, (3) which are not addressed and (4) which topics to prioritise for a sexual health curriculum.

Setting

Healthcare settings in Tanzania.

Methods

Participants were 60 experienced and 61 student doctors, nurses and midwives working in Dar es Salaam. The authors conducted 18 focus groups stratified by profession (midwifery, nursing or medicine) and experience (practitioners vs. students).

Results

Providers identified six common sexual health concerns: (1) Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and sexually transmissible infection (STI) (especially syphilis and gonorrhoea), (2) sexual violence (including intimate partner violence and female genital mutilation), (3) early and unwanted pregnancy (including early sexual debut and complications from abortion), (4) sexual dysfunctions, (5) key population concerns (e.g. lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT); sex work) and (6) non-procreative sexual behaviour (including pornography and masturbation in males and oral and anal sex practices in heterosexual couples). Across professions, few differences were observed. Homosexuality, sex work, masturbation and pornography were identified as taboo topics rarely discussed. Most participants (81%) wanted one comprehensive sexual health curriculum delivered across disciplines.

Conclusion

A sexual health curriculum for health students in Tanzania needs to address the most common sexual health concerns of patients. In addition to teaching sexual science and clinical care, skills training in how to address taboo topics is recommended. Students endorsed almost all sexual health topics, which suggests that a comprehensive curriculum is appropriate.

SUBMITTER: Rosser BRS

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9210149 | biostudies-literature | 2022 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Tailoring a sexual health curriculum to the sexual health challenges seen by midwifery, nursing and medical providers and students in Tanzania.

Rosser B R Simon BRS Mkoka Dickson A DA Rohloff Corissa T CT Mgopa Lucy R LR Ross Michael W MW Lukumay Gift G GG Mohammed Inari I Massae Agnes F AF Mkonyi Ever E Mushy Stella E SE Mwakawanga Dorkasi L DL Kohli Nidhi N Trent Maria E ME Wadley James J Bonilla Zobeida E ZE

African journal of primary health care & family medicine 20220531 1

<h4>Background</h4> Tanzania is a country experiencing multiple sexual health challenges, but providers receive no formal training in sexual health.<h4>Aim</h4> This study aimed to assess (1) what sexual health challenges are commonly seen in clinics in Tanzania, (2) which are raised by patients, (3) which are not addressed and (4) which topics to prioritise for a sexual health curriculum.<h4>Setting</h4> Healthcare settings in Tanzania.<h4>Methods</h4> Participants were 60 experienced and 61 st ...[more]

PMID: 35695444

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Dataset Information

Tailoring a sexual health curriculum to the sexual health challenges seen by midwifery, nursing and medical providers and students in Tanzania.

Background

Aim

Setting

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Publications

Tailoring a sexual health curriculum to the sexual health challenges seen by midwifery, nursing and medical providers and students in Tanzania.

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