In C & ocirc;te d'Ivoire, risky sexual practices among adolescents and young adults are a major public health issue. This qualitative ethnographic study, conducted in Bas-Sassandra, explores these practices from the perspectives of 53 stakeholders, including 26 adolescents and young adults. Knowledge about safe sex and the associated risks remains limited and sometimes erroneous. The practices identified include multiple partners, sexual games, sexual intercourse under the influence of psychoactive substances, anal sex, sexual violence, transactional sex, online sex, intimate hygiene rituals and practices related to body image, and touching. These behaviors are influenced by individual factors (e.g., student tenants), relational factors (e.g., parental resignation), and sociocultural factors (e.g., loss of normative reference points). The consequences are health-related (e.g., STIs), psychological (e.g., regret), social (e.g., stigmatization), legal (e.g., sanctions), and even fatal. Participants made several recommendations, such as parental supervision of technology use. This study reveals the complexity of the sexual trajectories of adolescents and young adults in Bas-Sassandra and the urgent need for appropriate interventions to protect their health, well-being, and future.
Objectives. Despite physicians' central role in sexual health, their own sexual behaviors and pornography use remain largely unexplored. This study provides the first systematic assessment of these aspects among physicians. Methods. An anonymous cross-sectional online survey was conducted among physicians from five hospital specialties. Variables included pornography use frequency, weekly sexual activity, annual number of sexual partners, and demographics. Analyses were performed using Fisher's exact test and nonparametric statistics. Results. A total of 120 physicians participated (60 men, 60 women; mean age 31.6 +/- 4.8 years). Pornography use was more frequent among men than women (86.7% vs. 46.7%, p < 0.001). Users reported higher sexual activity (2.68 vs. 1.58 times/week, p = 0.04) and more partners (2.58 vs. 1.43/year, p = 0.029). Single physicians reported more partners than those in relationships or married (p < 0.01). Conclusions. Pornography consumption is common among physicians, especially men, and correlates with higher sexual activity and more partners. These sexual behaviors appear comparable to the general population. These results invite further investigation into the intrinsic motivations behind such consumption.
Superficial dyspareunia (SD) is a common symptom of genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM), and local treatments are not always satisfactory and may sometimes be contraindicated. Laser therapy, by restoring vaginal trophicity, may help improve these symptoms. We studied the efficacy of CO2 and Er:Yag lasers on SD and evaluated their safety through a review of the literature. While early observational, non-randomized, and uncontrolled studies appeared promising, the latest randomized trials show more mixed results. The few adverse effects reported suggest that this technique is generally safe. However, further high-quality studies evaluating long-term efficacy and safety are urgently needed.
Sex education for children presenting with sexual behaviour problems and youth A bilingual (French and English) systematic review following PRISMA standards was conducted. to retrieve and include primary studies with sex education interventions or components for children with sexual behaviour problems and youth sex offenders. Studies (n = 15) included 606 children presenting with sexual behaviour problems (aged 3-17 yo) and 377 youth sex offenders (aged 10-17 yo). Most interventions were group-based (n = 10), only two RCTs were retrieved, and one study described a sexual health unit for children. Comparability between studies and outcomes was poor. The sex education content mostly consisted of generic sex education, behavioural norms, anatomy, and relational aspects. Most interventions were integrative, positive outcomes or effectiveness were globally reported, yet, the effect of sex education component was not identifiable.
Sex education is increasingly recognized as an important tool in preventing sexual violence. In France, it is legally mandated, yet its implementation varies across schools and sociocultural contexts. This study focuses on young women from evangelical Protestant communities and examines their access to sex education-whether provided in schools, community settings, or both. It also investigates whether such education may serve as a protective factor against the most severe forms of sexual violence, such as rape or attempted rape. The findings highlight specific dynamics and suggest ways to tailor prevention efforts to the realities of these environments.
