Preventing women's sexual risk behaviors during travel

Sexually Transmitted Infections in U.S. Military Women: A Scoping Review 2000-2018

PURPOSE

High rates of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) have been documented among U.S. military servicemembers. The purpose of this scoping review is to evaluate the literature to determine what is known about the risk factors, preventive measures, and health outcomes regarding STIs among active duty servicewomen.

METHODS

A search of six bibliographic databases and the grey literature identified articles published from January 1, 2000, to December 31, 2018. A two-level review process was used to evaluate the inclusion of articles.

RESULTS

Fifty-six articles were included. The majority of studies (n = 47) were descriptive (95%). The primary STIs of focus were chlamydia (66%) and gonorrhea (38%), with a lesser focus on herpes simplex virus 1 and 2 (17%) and syphilis (11%). There were no studies on chancroid or pubic lice. Chlamydia and gonorrhea were highly prevalent. Age, race, and gender were nonmodifiable risk factors, whereas behaviors, beliefs, socioeconomic level, marital status, and concomitant or repeat infections were modifiable risk factors. Educational programs and studies evaluating efficacious STI prevention methods were lacking. STI diagnoses occurred in servicewomen at their home stations as well as in deployed settings.

CONCLUSION

STIs remain an ongoing public health challenge with insufficient research to guide military and health care leaders. Future research should focus on prospective designs that leverage identified risk factors and at-risk populations where the most impact can be made to promote reproductive health.

Romance tourism or female sex tourism?

BACKGROUND

Love, sex and the female traveller: romance tourism or female sex tourism? The phenomenon of women travelling in search of relationships with local men in developing countries has been studied for the last 20 years. However, it appears little known in travel medicine.

METHODS

Relevant literature was found through PubMed, Science Direct, ProQuest and Google Scholar. The reference lists of selected articles identified further sources.

RESULTS

Historical records of women travellers to far-away countries abound. Then, as now, women not only searched for the erotic 'other' but made romance and sex the purpose of their trip. Today, increasing numbers of women travel to destinations in developing countries where sex with local men is the main attraction. This pastime raises concerns not only for the women themselves but for the local men involved as well as their sex partners and the local communities.

CONCLUSIONS

Although more research is necessary, comparing the criteria that describe men travelling for sex and relationships and women travelling for sex and relationships appears to suggest that there is very little difference between the two, regardless of what the pursuit is called. Women looking for sex with local men are sex tourists, too. Recognition of this fact needs to influence the pre and post travel care of female travellers.