Sexual Health Challenges in Iran and the Strategies for its Improvement

Abstract

Objectives: Sexual health has been considered as a necessary condition for achieving reproductive health, rather than being a part of it. This study aimed to identify the challenges of sexual health in Iran and the strategies for its improvement. Methods: In this qualitative study using content analysis, a semi-structured interview was used to collect data. The participants were 16 experienced experts who were selected using a purposive sampling method. After individual interviews and theoretical data saturation, data analysis was performed using the deductive content analysis method. Results: Five main themes including the taboo of sexuality and low public awareness, unconventional sexual behaviors and emerging social ills, stigma and discrimination, lack of the political commitment of the government, and lack of statistical indicators and not utilization of existing capacities were identified as the challenges of sexual health in Iran. The strategies to address them included: Public education and empowerment with a special focus on the adolescents and young people, adopting policies and revising the related laws in line with social changes; gaining the political support of the government, promoting the right attitude with a focus on banishing stigma and discrimination against groups with high-risk sexual behaviors, collecting indicators and designing interventions using human resources and existing capacities, and promoting professional ethics and gender equity. Conclusion: For addressing the challenges and achieving the highest levels of sexual health in Iran, it requires the political commitment of the government, revising laws, and inter-sectoral cooperation to design and implement multidisciplinary and multidimensional interventions.