Social media utilisation and sexual health education. What are the issues? A systematic review

Abstract

\n BackgroundYoung people are at a greater risk of poor sexual health and hence, require comprehensive, effective sexual health education. These cohort are constant users of social media which presents many innovative possibilities for sexual health education.MethodsA guided search was conducted on scientific and medical databases. Selected publications within the last five years on sexual health education were classified according to their study designs, sexual health promotion/education as the main subject, target audience age, and social media use. In all, 25 publications met the inclusion criteria out of which 60% were observational studies, 12% randomised controls and 28% non-randomised. About 96% publications reporting on the main subject sexual health promotion or education. Sixty (60%) of the included publications reported specifically on young people between the ages of 12-30 years.ResultsAbout 72% of the studies found that social media has positive effects on knowledge, behaviour, and attitudes of young people and 20% reported on its negative effects on young people.ConclusionSocial media is promising in promoting knowledge, behavioural and attitudinal change in young people. However, further research is required to improve sexual health program implementation and audience reach as well as determine the effectiveness of social media in changing knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours.