Citation

Edelman N. J. Health Psychol. 2018; 23(2): 161-174.

Affiliation

Brighton and Sussex Medical School, UK.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/1359105317743768

PMID

29205058

Abstract

Critical approaches may benefit epidemiological studies of sexual health. This article proposes a critical approach, reconcilable with social epidemiological enquiry. Key aims of critical epidemiology for sexual health are identified, from which three criticisms of practice emerge: (1) lack of attention to socio-cultural contexts, (2) construction of 'risk' as residing in the individual and (3) enactment of public health agendas which privilege and pathologise certain behaviours. These reflect and construct an apolitical understanding of population health. This article proposes features of a critical epidemiology that represent a morally driven re-envisioning of the focus, analysis and interpretation of epidemiological studies of sexual health.

Language: en

Keywords

critical; epidemiology; pregnancy; sexual behaviour; sexual health; socio-demographic variables