Assessing Sexual Health: A Comprehensive Scoping Review of Measurement Questionnaires Publisher



Arabkari Z¹ ; Alipour F² ; Fallahikhoshknab M³ ; Merghatikhoei E⁴ ; Samiei M⁵ ; Momtaz YA⁶
Source: Medical Journal of the Islamic Republic of Iran Published:2024

Abstract

Background: The concept of sexual health is used in health promotion, because sexual health is one of the important pillars of human health. Neglecting this aspect of health and its evaluation and measurement can affect the quality of sexual life and cause people to face challenges in their lives. This research aimed to review the range of questionnaires on sexual health and the concepts and dimensions they cover. Methods: A systematic scoping review based on the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines from January 1, 2000, to January 31, 2023, was performed in 5 databases—including Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, ProQuest, and Google Scholar—with the keywords extracted from MeSH. This study is a type of scoping review conducted within the framework of Arksey and O’Malley’s 5-step process. Results: From a total of 1783 manuscripts found, 65 articles met the inclusion criteria. Having reviewed the questionnaires, 2 types of indicators—(1) nonspecific indicators for sexual health and (2) special indicators of sexual health based on 3 physical (sexual performance, sexual dysfunction, and sexual activity), psychological (sexual satisfaction, intimate relationships, and sexual compatibility), and social (interpersonal relationships and sexual well-being) dimensions—were obtained. Conclusion: Despite the wide range of definitions and indicators used, a set of key indicators is apparent based on the results of this scoping review. These include knowledge and application of pregnancy prevention techniques, HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted infection prevention, sexual decision-making participation, sexual negotiation power, sexual communication skills, and sexual experiences and their impact on the quality of sexual life. This set of indicators can be systematically completed in each study based on the concept of promoting sexual health, however, additional indicators, take into account the sociocultural determinants of each society with sexual values and norms of the same cultural background. Copyright © Iran University of Medical Sciences