Sexuality, health and context: The influences of culture and ethnicity on sexual behavior

Abstract

Sexual Behaviour is a complex reality. Our sexuality isnt only biologically determined as our entire social and cultural organization is also sexualized. In this paper, our goal is to approach some of the implications of ethnicity and culture on sexual behaviours, in order to evaluate their implications on the practice of health care providers.We believe that it is important to understand the complexity of sexual behaviour in the way it can influence our daily practice. In various periods of human life, it is possible to find certain elements that show us that culture and ethnicity have an important role on sexuality. In adolescents, we can see that the feelings about sexual intercourse, use of condoms, number of sexual partners and unwanted pregnancy are associated with ethnicity and culture. In adults, it is also possible to verify that ethnicity and culture influence sexual behaviours.When we approach, among others, themes like self body image, menstruation, marital sexuality, masturbation, STD, pregnancy, use of condoms, we see that ethnicity and culture are responsible for several differences in sexual behaviours. On the other hand,we must understand that sexuality is ruled and influenced by society, with all the historical, demographic, cultural and economic changes that are associated with gender. Gender influences the behaviours of all ethnicities and cultures. For example, sexual and reproductive health and contraception are still the «responsibility» of women. All over the world, a large percentage of married men refer that they never have discussed this issue with their partners, and less than one third is responsible for contraception. We can conclude that it is imperative that all health technicians became aware about the common beliefs and attitudes that affect sexual behaviours in different communities.