The sexual lives of people with disabilities within low- and middle-income countries : a scoping study of studies published in English
Date
2017-07-05
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Taylor & Francis Open
Abstract
Background:
Although approximately 80% of the global population of people with disabilities reside in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), very little is known about their
sexual lives due to a lack of empirical data. We aimed to provide a scoping review of English-
language research conducted on disability and sexuality in LMICs.
Objective:
Our research questions concerned
what
topics in disability and sexuality have
(and have not) been investigated,
where
this research has been carried out, and
how
this
research has been conducted.
Methods:
A scoping review was conducted to examine the published English-language
research literature on disability and sexuality within LMICs. We searched three electronic
databases (PsycINFO, Web of Science, and PsycARTICLES) for research meeting these criteria
published between 2000 and 2016 (inclusive). Through this search, we identified 103 articles.
Results:
It is concluded that: (a) disability and sexuality research in African countries has focused
predominantly on sexual abuse and violence or HIV, (b) the sexuality of people with disabilities
within many LMICs has received little or no empirical investigation, and (c) there have been very
few experimental studies on disability and sexuality conducted in LMICs in general.
Conclusions:
Much remains unknown about the sexual health and sexual lives of the majority
of people with disabilities, globally. Moreover, what has been done in certain contexts has
tended to focus predominantly on vulnerabilities rather than emancipatory practices. Thus,
urgent action is needed within LMICs on is
Description
CITATION: Carew, M. T., et al. 2017. The sexual lives of people with disabilities within low- and middle-income countries : a scoping study of studies published in English. Global Health Action, 10(1):1337342, doi:10.1080/16549716.2017.1337342.
The original publication is available at https://www.tandfonline.com
The original publication is available at https://www.tandfonline.com
Keywords
Sexual health, Sexual minorities with disabilities, Sexual rights
Citation
Carew, M. T., et al. 2017. The sexual lives of people with disabilities within low- and middle-income countries : a scoping study of studies published in English. Global Health Action, 10(1):1337342, doi:10.1080/16549716.2017.1337342