📄 Category

sexual and reproductive health

44 papers

Sexual and reproductive health encompasses the full spectrum of physical and emotional well-being related to our bodies, relationships, and families. This vital field explores everything from contraception and pregnancy care to preventing infections and ensuring safe, consensual experiences for people of all backgrounds. It is a dynamic area of science where new discoveries constantly reshape how we understand our own biology and protect our futures.

At Gist.Science, we monitor every new preprint uploaded to medRxiv within this category to ensure you stay ahead of the curve. We process these emerging studies by transforming complex medical data into clear, plain-language explanations alongside detailed technical summaries, making cutting-edge research accessible to everyone without sacrificing scientific accuracy.

Below are the latest preprints in sexual and reproductive health, ready for you to explore.

📄 sexual and reproductive health

Mapping of person-centred sexual and reproductive health interventions at primary healthcare settings: An umbrella review

This umbrella review synthesizes findings from 21 global reviews to map person-centred sexual and reproductive health interventions in primary care, identifying five key thematic strategies that primarily enhance autonomy, dignity, and communication while highlighting the need for more explicit evaluation and holistic integration of person-centred components in future initiatives.

Saad, G. E., El Fakahany, S., Abi Jaoude, L., Halawi, P., Karam, Z., Kabakian-Khasholian, T., El Kak, F., McCall, S. J.2026-04-13
📄 sexual and reproductive health

Family planning self-care: from global frameworks to local meaning, perceptions, experiences and opportunities in Niger

This mixed-methods study in Niger reveals that local perceptions of family planning self-care diverge significantly from global autonomy-focused frameworks, characterized by women's preference for clinical validation due to safety concerns and men's prioritization of economic efficiency, thereby necessitating gender-stratified strategies that reframe self-care as an empowered partnership with the health system rather than independence from it.

Fotso, J. C., Togo, E., Bidashimwa, D., Adje, O. E., Moumouni, N. A.2026-04-13
📄 sexual and reproductive health

Creating pathways for change to increase modern contraceptive uptake in rural Indonesia: Protocol for a Feminist Qualitative Study

This paper outlines a protocol for a feminist qualitative study in rural West Sumba, Indonesia, which employs participatory action research and mixed data collection methods to develop a theory of change aimed at increasing modern contraceptive uptake by addressing the diverse needs and barriers faced by local communities.

Riwu, R. R., Ho, F., Greenwood, S., Gray, C. M.2026-04-10
📄 sexual and reproductive health

Client and Health Care Provider Perspectives on Point-of-Care Testing for Sexually Transmitted Infections in Community Pharmacies in Uganda

This qualitative study in Uganda finds that while clients, providers, and policymakers view integrating point-of-care STI testing into community pharmacies as a highly acceptable strategy to improve accessibility, speed, and antimicrobial resistance control, its successful implementation requires addressing barriers such as stigma, privacy concerns, and supply chain sustainability.

Onzia, A. A., Twimukye, A., Melendez, J. H., Hamill, M. M., Kyambadde, P., Kiragga, A., Manabe, Y. C., Parkes-Ratanshi (…)2026-04-03
📄 sexual and reproductive health

High prevalence of female genital schistosomiasis and under-detection by urine microscopy among women of reproductive age in Kilifi County, Kenya

This study in Kilifi County, Kenya, reveals that female genital schistosomiasis affects 36% of women of reproductive age but is largely missed by routine urine microscopy, as 72% of infected women showed no detectable urinary eggs, highlighting the critical need for genital sampling and molecular diagnostics in control strategies.

KARIUKI, H. W., Nyasore, S. M., Muthini, F. W., Mwangi, P. W., Makazi, P. M., Mureithi, M. W., Bulimo, W. D., Wanjala, E (…)2026-04-02
📄 sexual and reproductive health

Vaginal-Stimulating Product Use and Cervicovaginal Health Among Adolescent Girls and Young Women in Rural South Africa: A Cross-Sectional Baseline Study

This cross-sectional baseline study of sexually active HIV-negative adolescent girls and young women in rural South Africa reveals that while vaginal-stimulating product use is highly prevalent, it is significantly associated with cervical ectopy in adults and shows exploratory links to specific STIs and HPV-16 in adolescents, underscoring the need for further longitudinal research to clarify biological risks and inform culturally responsive health interventions.

Radebe, P., Sengeziwe, S., Nokuthula, M., Lindi, M., Hilton, H., Ntombenhle, M., Nonsikelelo, N., Lenine, L., Sinaye, N. (…)2026-03-25
📄 sexual and reproductive health

EPIDEMIOLOGICAL PROFILE OF CHLAMYDIA TRACHOMATIS INFECTION IN LOW-INCOME PREGNANT WOMEN IN KINSHASA

A cross-sectional study conducted in Kinshasa between June and December 2023 revealed an 18% prevalence of *Chlamydia trachomatis* infection among low-income pregnant women, with the highest rates observed in married women aged 25–35 and significant associations with vaginal symptoms and adverse pregnancy outcomes such as prematurity and spontaneous abortion.

NDZOUEBENG, O., MVUMBI, G. L., ZONO, B., YOBI, D. M., KABUTU, P. Z., Mikobi, T. M.2026-03-24
📄 sexual and reproductive health

Structural determinants of STI service delivery for internally displaced persons in Nigeria: A qualitative study of policy and humanitarian perspectives

This qualitative study reveals that STI service delivery for internally displaced persons in Nigeria is critically undermined by HIV-centric vertical financing, weak implementation of policies, and sociocultural barriers, necessitating a strategic rebalancing of funding and strengthened health systems to ensure equitable access.

Amodu, O., Janes, C., Affia, P.2026-03-18
📄 sexual and reproductive health

Meta-Analyses of Sexual Assault Prevalence Among Homeless Women

This meta-analysis of 20 studies reveals that homeless women face disproportionately high rates of sexual assault, with a pooled lifetime prevalence of 39.2% and a 12-month prevalence of 22%, highlighting particularly elevated risks for those with disabilities, mental illness, or LGBTQ+ identities and underscoring the urgent need for tailored public health interventions.

Valliant, S. J., Razumeyko, J., Silva, A., Parton, S., Lee, A., Derin, J. R., Ahmad, N. B., Kulik, C., Banihashem, M.2026-03-17
📄 sexual and reproductive health

Cultural Adaptation and Psychometric Assessment of Acceptability, Appropriateness, and Feasibility Measures for Family Planning Interventions Among Midwives and Nurses in Ghana

This study successfully culturally adapted and psychometrically validated the Acceptability, Appropriateness, and Feasibility measures for evaluating postpartum family planning interventions among Ghanaian midwives and nurses, finding that while the adapted tools are reliable, their abridged versions demonstrate superior construct validity compared to expanded versions.

Glozah, F. N., Maya, E., Guure, C., Sonalkar, S., McAllister, A., Doe, R., Kaire, J., Gaffield, M. E.2026-03-17