Sexual Practices in Africa
摘要
In the past three decades, the challenges facing sexual practices in Africa have been at the forefront of many discourses. This is attributed to the cultural diversities that exist in the continent which complicate the assessment of sexual practices and their underlying nuances. Therefore, for the challenges associated with sexuality in Africa to be addressed, it becomes imperative to have a better understanding of current and emerging sexuality practices in the African context. In this chapter, we review studies on sexual practices published between 1994 and 2023 to (1) synthesize existing research in Africa over the past three decades, (2) identify knowledge gaps, and (3) suggest a research agenda for achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) targets on Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) by 2030 in Africa. In our review of the literature, we found that an established body of work focused on definitions, concepts, behaviours, partnerships, and determinants of sexual practices across different regions of Africa. We also noted that work focused on the impact of globalization and technological advancements on sexual practices was more prevalent. Finally, we found that literature on cultural diversities in sexuality driven by traditional norms, gender roles, and attitudes, along with the consequences of population dynamics on family change and globalization, reflect the emerging trends in sexual practices across the continent. We conclude by offering future outlooks of research on sexual practices in Africa.