Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39970322›Full record

ArticleJournal of intellectual disability research : JIDR2025

Sexual Health Literacy Among Adults With Intellectual Disabilities: A Scoping Review.

Margaret McGrath, Lok Yan Cheryl Chong, Susan Collings, Roxanna Pebdani

Abstract readScoping Review
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of intellectual disability research : JIDR, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. Sexual Health Literacy Among Adults With Intellectual Disabilities: A Scoping Review.Journal of intellectual disability research : JIDR · 2025
    Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Margaret McGrathDepartment of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, School of Clinical Therapies, College of Medicine and Health, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.ORCID 0000-0002-4742-6805
Lok Yan Cheryl ChongSydney School of Health Sciences | Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
Susan CollingsTransforming Early Education and Child Health Research Centre, Translational Health Research Institute (THRI), Western Sydney University, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
Roxanna PebdaniSydney School of Health Sciences | Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundAlthough sexual health literacy is recognised as critical to sexual health and well-being, little is known about how people with intellectual disabilities acquire or use sexual health literacy skills. This scoping review examined research to explore what is known about sexual health literacy among adults with intellectual disability.

methodWe used Arksey and O'Malley's scoping framework to guide our review. We searched five electronic databases and reference lists of full-text articles. Inclusion criteria included (i) original research in peer reviewed journals; (ii) published in English; (iii) addressed perspectives or experiences of people with intellectual disabilities regarding sexual health literacy or related topics. Findings were reported according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses extension for scoping reviews (PRISMA-Scr). All text labelled 'results', 'findings' or 'discussion' was subjected to interpretive content analysis.

resultsThe search strategy identified 5447 records, 102 met all eligibility criteria and were included for review. A conceptual framework to understand factors shaping sexual health literacy was developed. In this framework, sexual health literacy is underpinned by two fundamental pillars: sexual knowledge and sexual autonomy. The availability of sexual knowledge and sexual autonomy is threatened by several factors in the social environment: presumed sexual vulnerability and sexual incompetence, and expectations of heteronormativity and asexuality. Combined these factors reduce opportunities for acquisition of sexual knowledge and enactment of sexual autonomy and ultimately appear to limit sexual literacy among people with intellectual disabilities.

conclusionSexual health literacy is critical for people with intellectual disabilities to enjoy full sexual citizenship. Despite this limited attention has been paid to supporting people with intellectual disabilities to acquire and use sexual health literacy skills. Comprehensive education programs are needed to address this gap and ensure the rights of people with intellectual disabilities to engage in safe, pleasurable sexual experiences and enjoy good sexual health are upheld.

Indexed as

Health Knowledge, Attitudes, PracticeHealth LiteracyIntellectual DisabilitySexual HealthAdultHumansHealth inequitiesIntellectual disabilityQuality of lifeSocial skills

Identifiers

PMID39970322
PMCPMC11966363

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.