Men’s mental health is a focus area for improving population health worldwide. Traditional masculine norms among men have been reported to make them more susceptible to mental health issues. This study aims to review existing literature on how traditional masculinity norms influence men’s willingness to seek mental health support. This review followed stages of systematic review. The review search was initiated in February 2024. The search process was conducted on electronic databases such as PubMed, PsycINFO, Science Direct, and Google Scholar to identify relevant studies published in English between 2000 and 2024. The search terms included “traditional masculinity norms,” “men’s mental health,” “help-seeking behavior,” and “barriers to mental health care.” Studies were selected based on their relevance to the topic. The inclusion criteria were studies focusing on adult men and examining the relationship between traditional masculinity norms and mental health help-seeking behaviors. Exclusion criteria included studies focusing on children, adolescents, or women and nonempirical articles. Data extraction covered study details, design, population characteristics, and key findings. This study included 47 relevant studies. Two key themes emerged, namely: masculinity and mental health (impact on mental health); and barriers to seeking help. Traditional masculinity norms significantly deter men from seeking mental health support, highlighting the need for culturally sensitive interventions that address these barriers.

The mental health of medical students is a growing concern worldwide, with studies indicating high levels of stress, anxiety, and depression among this population. In a South African context, this review aims to review the existing literature on mental health needs and challenges among medical students in South Africa. The rationale for this review is crucial to identify gaps, understand unique contextual factors, and inform the development of targeted interventions and support tailored to the specific needs of South African medical students. This review followed a scoping review framework by Arksey and O’Malley which consists of five stages. The review was initiated in December 2023. The search process was conducted on the following electronic databases: PubMed, Psych-info, Scopus, Google Scholar, and Science Direct. The search terms of this review were “Medical students” OR “Mental health”, OR “Challenges”, OR “South Africa”, OR “Universities” OR “Needs”, OR “Support systems”, OR “Mental health interventions”. This study included articles published in English between 2010 and 2023. After a thorough review of the literature, only eight articles met the inclusion criteria. This study excluded articles that were not published in English, articles published before 2010, full-text articles that could not be retrieved, and studies that did not address the mental health needs and challenges faced by medical students and risk factors contributing to mental issues among South African medical students. The review yielded only three themes utilizing Creswell’s Tesch method of data analysis. (1) Prevalence of mental health disorders, (2) risk factors contributing to poor mental health, and (3) available university support systems and interventions. Therefore, the unique aspect of our review lies in shedding light on the underexplored intersections between mental health and the unique context of medical education in South Africa. This includes examining the impact of historical, cultural, and institutional factors on the mental health and well-being of medical students, which has not been comprehensively addressed in previous literature in terms of the South African context. The findings of this review highlight the importance of implementing comprehensive mental health support programs within medical education institutions to address the needs of students and promote their well-being.

Background: The phenomenon of healthcare and social struggles among sex workers in communities of South Africa is a critical concern. Sex workers are often stigmatised, discriminated against, and violated. This study stems from the observation that sex workers experience daily healthcare and social challenges due to their line of work. This involves prejudice and stigma from the general public and medical professionals. Despite government efforts to raise the calibre of healthcare services, some healthcare systems remain problematic. Objective: The study intended to critically review the publications on public health problems and barriers faced by sex workers. Methodology: The systematic review methodology was used in the investigation. Identification of the problem, literature search, data evaluation, data analysis, and presentation were the five stages of the systematic review that were carried out. The following electronic databases were used to conduct a thorough search of the literature from 2013 to 2022: CINAHL, Medline, PubMed, JStore, and Embase. The search phrases included “sex workers,” “health problems,” “barriers,” “experiences,” “challenges,” “Mental Health,” and “systematic review”. Studies that were published prior to 2013 did not focus on the challenges, barriers, and social and health problems of sex workers and were not reported in English were excluded. Following the critical review evaluation, 30 studies were selected for this study out of a total of 85 studies. The categories were constructed using Creswell's Tesch method of data analysis. Results: The analysis yielded two themes and seven subthemes: (1) public social problems that sex workers must navigate, including violence, criminalisation of sex work, stigma, prejudice, and linguistic and cultural hurdles, (2) high rates of HIV and STIs, a lack of comprehensive knowledge of reproductive and health issues, problems with mental health, and challenging access to care are some examples of the complexity of public healthcare. Conclusion: A multipronged approach, including legal reform, destigmatisation, and increased access to healthcare and social support services, is required to address the healthcare and social struggles of sex workers.

The intersection of religious beliefs and sex work has long been a subject of debate, with varying perspectives on the moral, social, and legal implications. This qualitative systematic review aimed to review the nuanced relationship between religious beliefs and sex work by synthesizing the existing literature and providing insights into the diverse perspectives and experiences. The rationale for this research is to understand how religious beliefs influence societal attitudes, policies, and the experiences of sex workers in order to inform more effective and culturally sensitive interventions and support mechanisms. This review focused on articles pertaining to female-identified sex workers, as the gendered discussion happens heavily in religious interpretations and in current anti-trafficking legislation, which now genders men as customers and not as sex workers. Five stages of systematic review were followed in this review. The following peer-reviewed electronic databases from 2000 to 2023 were utilized: Google Scholar, Scopus database, Science Direct, and PubMed. The search strategy focused on identifying studies that investigated the impact of religious beliefs on various aspects of sex work, including attitudes towards sex work within religious communities and the influence of religious teachings on the behavior and practices of sex workers. Inclusion criteria were defined based on population, exposure, study design, and outcomes, while exclusion criteria were established to ensure the relevance and rigor of the included studies. Only 25 relevant studies resulted from this research. Four themes emerged from this study: (1) religious attitudes towards sex work; (2) experiences of sex workers, including stigmatization and marginalization within religious contexts; (3) social control; and (4) empowerment and advocacy. The relationship between religious beliefs and sex work is complex and multifaceted, influenced by cultural, social, and historical factors. Recognizing and understanding these perspectives is essential for developing more inclusive and effective interventions and policies that address the needs and rights of sex workers within the context of their religious beliefs and communities.

Background: Sex work remains a contentious and marginalized aspect of society, with sex workers facing a myriad of challenges that impact their mental health and well-being. Objective: This review explores, reviews, and examines the psychiatric challenges encountered by sex workers daily and seeks to identify key gaps in the current research and highlight areas of future intervention and support. Methodology: This study followed five stages of the integrative review suggested by Whittmore and Knafl. The identification of the problem, literature search, data evaluation, data extraction, analysis, and presentation of results were the five stages of the integrative review that were carried out. This review examined English-language publications from 2010 to 2023 that discussed the mental health issues that sex workers experienced. Furthermore, this study excluded publications that were published before 2010, articles written in languages other than English, publications whose complete texts could not be retrieved, and works that did not address the mental health problems that sex workers encounter. For their initial search, the writers employed electronic databases like PubMed, Scopus, Psych-Info, Google Scholar, Science Direct, and Medline. The search terms were as follows: ‘sex work’, ‘sex workers’, ‘prostitution’, ‘mental health’, ‘psychiatric challenges’, ‘stigma’, Risk factors’, and ‘barriers’. Results: Following the critical appraisal, out of 150 studies, only 34 studies were chosen for analysis. Using Cresswell’s Tesch method, two themes emerged from this study: (1) mental health challenges faced by sex workers and (2) primary risk factors contributing to their mental health challenges. Conclusions: Moreover, addressing the psychiatric challenges faced by sex workers requires a multifaceted approach that acknowledges the intersectionality of factors influencing sex workers’ mental health outcomes, thus also highlighting the imperative for tailored interventions and support systems to promote their well-being.

Complex interactions exist between sex work and parenthood, impacting the lives of those in sex work who also provide care for others. This scoping review aims to review the experiences and challenges of female sex workers who are parents or caregivers, highlighting the socioeconomic, psychological, and legal dimensions of their dual roles. The rationale for this review stems from the recognition that sex workers who are also parents face unique and multifaceted challenges that significantly impact their wellbeing and that of their children. The five stages of a scoping review suggested by Arksey and O’Malley were followed in this study. A comprehensive literature search was conducted across electronic databases such as PubMed, PsycINFO, and Google Scholar. This study covered publications written in English from 2010 to 2023. Studies were selected based on their focus on sex workers who are parents or caregivers. Both qualitative and quantitative research articles were included. Thematic analysis was employed to synthesize findings across the selected studies. Studies published prior to 2013, studies that were not published in English, and studies that did not address the experiences of female sex workers who are parents or caregivers were excluded from this study. The review identified 14 studies meeting the inclusion criteria. Five key themes emerged from this study: (1) social stigma and healthcare discrimination; (2) legal challenges; (3) mental nexus; (4) risk behaviors and exposing children to a hazardous environment; and (5) social support. Sex workers who are also parents or caregivers navigate a multifaceted landscape of challenges and resilience. Policy reforms are needed to reduce stigma, provide financial support, and ensure legal protections for this key population.