Prevention of sexual safety incidents within older adult, disability and mental health care settings: a scoping review

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dc.contributor.authorBiskupovic Goulding, Ryan
dc.contributor.authorEgan, Caroline
dc.contributor.authorDalton O' Connor, Caroline
dc.contributor.authorNaughton, Corina
dc.contributor.authorHartigan, Irene
dc.contributor.authorLoughlin, Kathleen Mc
dc.contributor.authorO'Malley, Maria
dc.contributor.authorHegarty, Josephine
dc.contributor.authorBurton, Aileen
dc.contributor.authorWills, Teresa
dc.contributor.authorMartin, Anne-Marie
dc.contributor.authorCaples, Maria
dc.contributor.authorLeane, Máire
dc.contributor.authorÓ Súilleabháin, Fiachra
dc.contributor.authorDrakos, Katerina
dc.contributor.authorHughes, Liz
dc.contributor.authorNolan, J. P
dc.contributor.authorO'Mahony, James
dc.contributor.funderHealth Service Executive
dc.date.accessioned2026-08-13T14:02:01Z
dc.date.available2026-08-13T14:02:01Z
dc.date.issued2026-07-22
dc.description© 2026, the Author(s). Published with license by Taylor & Francis Group, LLC This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by- nc-nd/4.0/), which permits non-commercial re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited, and is not altered, transformed, or built upon in any way. The terms on which this article has been published allow the posting of the Accepted Manuscript in a repository by the author(s) or with their consent.
dc.description.abstractObjectives The main objective of this scoping review was to map interventions and strategies to promote sexual safety and reduce the risk of harm in health and social care settings and to critically examine the effect on reported outcomes. Methods This review was conducted in accordance with the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) guidelines on the conduct of a Scoping Review. Both empirical and grey literature were considered to capture the full extent of data on sexual safety. The PRISMA-ScR extension was used to guide the reporting of this review. Results In total, 18 studies (17 from databases and one grey literature report) were identified relating to the prevention or management of sexual safety incidents. Specific themes were: Staff education, training and awareness, sexual safety culture, sexual safeguarding (peer-to-peer and resident/client to staff), and national policy and system response. There is very limited empirical evidence on the effectiveness of interventions and prevention strategies to promote sexual safety in congregated health and social care settings, with sexual behavior and sexual abuse remaining taboo subjects that are under recognized and often inadequately managed at both individual and system levels. The importance of staff training incorporating the voice of victims, organizational procedures and leadership on safeguarding, and the need for national monitoring and system readiness is highlighted. Conclusion Sexual safety in congregated settings is complex, requiring evidence-based and multifaceted interventions, supported by comprehensive stakeholder engagement. Diverse approaches require layered responses to balance the rights of potential victims and perpetrators based on detailed and sensitive risk assessment. Research priorities informed by advocacy and stakeholder involvement are needed to develop sexual safety programmes to improve practice and environmental safety for all.en
dc.format.extent25
dc.format.extent1871686
dc.identifier.authororcidBiskupovic Goulding, Ryan§0000-0001-8121-5393
dc.identifier.authororcidEgan, Caroline§0000-0002-2594-0440
dc.identifier.authororcidDalton O' Connor, Caroline§0000-0003-4396-2800
dc.identifier.authororcidNaughton, Corina
dc.identifier.authororcidHartigan, Irene§0000-0002-3043-5764
dc.identifier.authororcidLoughlin, Kathleen Mc
dc.identifier.authororcidO'Malley, Maria§0000-0002-0495-8588
dc.identifier.authororcidHegarty, Josephine§0000-0002-1663-4820
dc.identifier.authororcidBurton, Aileen§0000-0001-7607-4426
dc.identifier.authororcidWills, Teresa
dc.identifier.authororcidMartin, Anne-Marie§0000-0001-6446-7791
dc.identifier.authororcidCaples, Maria§0000-0003-0734-7907
dc.identifier.authororcidLeane, Máire
dc.identifier.authororcidÓ Súilleabháin, Fiachra§0000-0001-8908-1633
dc.identifier.authororcidDrakos, Katerina
dc.identifier.authororcidHughes, Liz
dc.identifier.authororcidNolan, J. P
dc.identifier.authororcidO'Mahony, James§0000-0002-7101-7016
dc.identifier.citationBiskupovic Goulding, R, Egan, C, Dalton O' Connor, C, Naughton, C, Hartigan, I, Loughlin, K M, O'Malley, M, Hegarty, J, Burton, A, Wills, T, Martin, A-M, Caples, M, Leane, M, Ó Súilleabháin, F, Drakos, K, Hughes, L, Nolan, J P & O'Mahony, J 2026, 'Prevention of sexual safety incidents within older adult, disability and mental health care settings: a scoping review', International Journal of Sexual Health, pp. 1-25. https://doi.org/10.1080/19317611.2026.2690240
dc.identifier.doi10.1080/19317611.2026.2690240
dc.identifier.endpage25
dc.identifier.issn1931-7611
dc.identifier.journaltitleInternational Journal of Sexual Health
dc.identifier.otherORCID: /0000-0001-8121-5393/work/223690851
dc.identifier.otherORCID: /0000-0002-0495-8588/work/223690950
dc.identifier.otherORCID: /0000-0002-2594-0440/work/223690983
dc.identifier.otherORCID: /0000-0003-4396-2800/work/223691096
dc.identifier.otherORCID: /0000-0001-7607-4426/work/223691197
dc.identifier.otherORCID: /0000-0002-3043-5764/work/223691223
dc.identifier.otherORCID: /0000-0001-8908-1633/work/223691314
dc.identifier.otherORCID: /0000-0003-0734-7907/work/223691389
dc.identifier.otherORCID: /0000-0002-7101-7016/work/223691391
dc.identifier.otherORCID: /0000-0001-6446-7791/work/223691769
dc.identifier.otherORCID: /0000-0002-1663-4820/work/223691794
dc.identifier.startpage1
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10468/19120
dc.identifier.urlhttps://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105045611729
dc.language.isoeng
dc.rightscc_by_nc_nd
dc.subjectSDG 12 - Responsible Consumption and Production
dc.subjectSDG 16 - Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
dc.subjectIntellectual disability
dc.subjectMental health
dc.subjectOlder adult
dc.subjectPrevention
dc.subjectScoping review
dc.subjectSexual safety
dc.subject[NursingMidwifery]
dc.titlePrevention of sexual safety incidents within older adult, disability and mental health care settings: a scoping reviewen
dc.typeArticle (Peer reviewed)
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