The sexual behaviours and practices of men who have sex with men and women (MSMW): A scoping review

Abstract Aim Insufficient research focusing on the lived experiences of men who have sex with men and women (MSMW) can lead to a lack of understanding of the specific needs and complexities of this population. A scoping review was conducted to identify the existing evidence and describe the gaps in the literature related to the experiences of MSMW, with particular attention on the intersection between sexual identity, sexual attraction, and sexual behaviour; stigma and discrimination; health-seeking behaviours; health interventions; sexually transmitted infection (STI) and blood-borne virus (BBV) risk and protective behaviours; disclosure; and sexual behaviours. Subject and methods A search was conducted using both academic databases (MEDLINE, PsycINFO, and Web of Science) and grey literature search engines (Google and Google Scholar). Studies were included if they met the following criteria: published since 2013, published in English, and containing literature relating to MSMW and one or more of the focus concepts. Results Forty-six studies were included in the review. A fear of stigma and discrimination was found to have a negative impact on several areas, including sexual identity, disclosure, and health-seeking behaviours. The least represented topic was health-seeking behaviours, with the dominant theme being that accessible and affirming services are necessary to encourage engagement among MSMW. Conclusion Findings highlight the need for accessible and affirming health services to encourage engagement by MSMW, as well as evidence-based training for healthcare professionals. Also highlighted is the need for tailored interventions to reduce STI/BBV risks among this population.