Critically Understanding South Asian Sexual Health: A Call for a Holistic and Sex Positive Approach

Abstract

This paper responds to the call to better understand sexual health among South Asians in the United States. Utilizing the sexual health model as a guiding framework, this paper examines the state of research on South Asian sexual health, discusses the research gaps and makes practice, policy, and research recommendations. Recommendations for future research include a need for disaggregated data to capture nuances among South Asian ethnic groups; a need for more qualitative studies; and a need for practice and research to understand positive sexuality congruent with cultural, spirituality & religious beliefs.

Keywords:

• Sexual health promotion
• Asian sexuality
• sexuality

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.

Additional information

Funding

The present work was financially supported by a University of Houston New Faculty Grant.