Abstract:
Introduction Sexual health care services must be standard and unbiased, guided by a structured health care system. There
is a scarcity of data on how sexual health care is delivered in Tanzania.
Methods To address this gap, in July 2019 we interviewed eleven key informants: cultural and public health experts, and
political, religious, and community leaders, selected from diferent organizations in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Participants
were asked for their opinions about clinical practices of health care professionals when providing care to patients, with an
emphasis on sexual health.
Results Participants’ responses were classifed into three subcategories: strengths, barriers, and gaps in sexual health care.
Availability of services, service delivery to adults, and code of conduct were among the strengths observed in clinical care
services. Barriers included the health care provider’s attitudes, moral values, and inadequacy in health policies and treatment
guidelines. Vulnerable populations including youth were frequently reported to face most challenges when seeking sexual
health care services. In terms of gaps, informants emphasized gender equity in sexual health services provision within care
settings.
Conclusion and Implication Data indicate that lack of training in sexual health and guidelines for dealing with sexual issues.
are a barrier to comprehensive health care. These findings can inform the main areas for curriculum developers to focus on,
when developing an Afro-centric sexual health curriculum suitable for students in health care professional courses. Moreover, these findings can be useful when developing treatment guidelines and policies that are beneficial to the sexual health.
wellbeing of individuals.
