Health scientific production on human sexuality

Abstract

Background: Human sexuality is often treated in a limited way during academic formation, harming knowledge building. The analysis of scientific production facilitates the understanding of the identity of the research field and points the way forward. Objective: To analyze health scientific production on human sexuality and discuss foci of attention and knowledge gaps. Method: Three electronic databases were consulted: LILACS, PUBMED, SCIELO; and using the keywords “knowledge”, “attitude”, “comfort” and “curriculum” in Portuguese and english. All these were combined with the term “human sexuality”. It included papers published in English and Portuguese in the period between 2000 and 2010. Results: We selected 20 articles from 2022 analyzed. Of the total 50% came from nursing, 45% from medicine and 5% from occupational therapy. 65% of the analyzed articles were published in English and 35% in Portuguese. Conclusion : nursing and medicine produce the largest number of articles related to human sexuality. Although most of the articles analyzed were produced outside of Brazil, the country is increasing its production, showing a growing concern over an area that more and more reveals its importance in health professionals clinical practice.