London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine

In this module, we take a critical, social approach to understanding sexual health. We look at how laws, politics, social controls, norms, inequalities and injustices (e.g. in relation to gender, sexuality, race, class and disability) affect possibilities for sexual health to be understood and realised. We also focus on how communities, activists, practitioners and researchers work to document and redress sexual health inequalities and related power imbalances. We work from a holistic understanding of sexual health to consider not only risk and harm but also autonomy, pleasure and rights. During the module, we hear from LSHTM staff and guest speakers working across research, policy, practice, health and community organising/activism, drawing on experience from around the world, with the aim of grounding learning in applied and lived experience. We use a range of formats, including lectures, plenaries, panel discussions, and seminars. 

Some sessions focus on communities that experience particular inequalities/injustices connected to sexual health and sexuality, including those often overlooked in mainstream sexual health research and practice. Others address specific aspects of sexual health and/or systems and contexts that shape sexual health and rights. We discuss decolonisation, sexual and gender binaries, masculinities, young people, sexual and gender minorities, disability, sex work, migration, climate change, coercion and autonomy, pleasure, pornography, abortion, sexual function, and rights. We also include sessions focused on sexual health research, services, education, and interventions. By the end of the module, students will be equipped with the methodological skills to conduct sexual health research.

The overall module aim is to acquaint students with the theoretical and empirical aspects of the study of sexual health, and their application to public health practice.

Intended learning outcomes

Upon successful completion of the module, a student should be able to:

• Define a holistic perspective of sexual health and its key components.
• Describe who is most at risk of, and vulnerable to, poor sexual health and why.
• Demonstrate understanding of social and structural influences on sexual behaviours, practices and health, and their implications.
• Evaluate the impact of issues affecting how sexual attitudes, behaviours and practices are conceptualised and measured, including political, ethical and methodological factors.
• Appraise a range of interventions designed to improve sexual health, including structural, community-based and community-led approaches.

Session Content

The module is expected to cover the following topics:

• Public health priorities, decolonisation, equity and social justice in sexual health. 
• The nature of sexual behaviour and practice: theoretical and empirical issues, definitions of ‘normal’, sexual diversity and conformity, and implications for sexual health. The regulation of sexual conduct, and of marginalised populations’ bodies and lives is based on assumptions around sexuality and social control. 
• Historical and social science approaches to the study of sexual behaviours, practices and controls (i.e. variations across time and societies). Trends in sexual mores and their implications for public health and wellbeing. Influences on sexual attitudes and lifestyles - psychological, biological, cultural, economic, religious, political, (neo-)colonial, technological, etc. 
• Political aspects of sexual health; treatment of sex, sexuality and sexual health in society and law; implications of stigma, criminalisation, sensitivities and taboos for the practice of sexual health medicine and service provision; gender, sexual, racial, disability-related and economic inequalities and injustices in sexual health; the health of sexual and gender minorities, and populations marginalised based on sexual practices/economies (e.g. sex workers). 
• Researching sexual behaviours and practices; pitfalls and possibilities; appropriate and inappropriate methodologies; examples of qualitative, quantitative and mixed-methods research. 
• Designing, implementing and assessing sexual health interventions.

Mode of delivery

This module is delivered predominantly face-to-face. Where specific teaching methods (lectures, seminars, discussion groups) are noted in this module specification these will be delivered by predominantly face-to-face sessions. There will be a combination of live and interactive activities (synchronous learning) as well as self-directed study (asynchronous learning).

Assessment

The assessment for this module has been designed to measure student learning against the module's intended learning outcomes (ILOs) as listed above. The grade for summative assessment(s) only will go towards the overall award GPA. 

The formal assessment will be by a written assignment on social influences on a particular aspect of sexual health. The assessment will contribute 100% of the total grade for the module.

Credits

• CATS: 15
• ECTS: 7.5

Module specification

For full information regarding this module please see the module specification.