Sexual Education- Reassessing HIV prevention policies on an international level: Review

MYRTO PATAGIA BAKARAKI 1 and PANAGIOTIS GIANNAKOS 2

1 Occupational Therapist, MSc PhDc Neurorehabilitation and Neuroscience, University of West Attica, Athens, Greece.
2 Social Worker, MSc International Medicine- Health Crisis Management, Athens, Greece.
 
Review Article
World Journal of Advanced Research and Reviews, 2024, 21(03), 2151–2162
Article DOI: 10.30574/wjarr.2024.21.3.0989
 
Publication history: 
Received on 19 February 2024; revised on 24 March 2024; accepted on 27 March 2024
 
Abstract: 
Objective: To reassess the social and behavioural interventions alongside the medical ones in sexual education, the prevention of HIV/AIDS in countries with low, middle and high socioeconomic status.
Design: Systematic review.
Data sources: 25 electronic references without geographical limitations to December 2013 gathered from International organizations including US CDC and ECDC as well as high impact journals.
Review methods: A reviewer applied inclusion criteria and extracted data from the latest reports of ECDC, CDC, and UNAIDS. The data came from countries with low and middle socioeconomic status. Statistical rates for condom use, sterile syringes, and testing and counseling were employed. Randomized and quasirandomised controlled trials of abstinence only and plus programmes, medical male circumcision, pre-exposure prophylaxis, antiretroviral treatment, and sexually transmitted infections were included.
Results: The search identified 13 trials pertaining to abstinence programmes, approximately 2 regarding medical male circumcision and 1 regarding sexually transmitted infections. All outcomes were self reported. It was found that most of the intervention programmes are not deployed together. This approach bears fruits in sexual education, in HIV prevention. Yet, if interventions were used in compilation then results would have been even better.
Conclusion: Future sexual education intervention programmes must adopt the eclectic approach. HIV prevention programmes must combine all of the social and behavioural as well as medical interventions and not focus on solely one separated out intervention.
 
Keywords: 
Sexual Education; HIV/AIDS Prevention; Socioeconomic Status; Systematic Review; Intervention Programs; Eclectic Approach
 
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