Breaking Myths About the Sexual Rights of OlderAdults: A Narrative Literature Review

Breaking Myths About the Sexual Rights of Older Adults: A Narrative Literature Review

Authors

  • Johan Sebastián Villada Gómez Universidad de Caldas
  • Diana Carolina Ocampo Muñoz Universidad de Caldas
  • Diana Paola Betancurth Loaiza Universidad de Caldas
  • Lorena Gómez Giraldo Universidad de Caldas
  • Juan Andrés Arango Londoño Universidad de Caldas https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8684-4858

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.30854/anf.1261

Keywords:

Older adults, Sexuality, Social Representation, Sexual and Reproductive Right, Health Policy , (obtained from the DeSC/MeSH Thesaurus)

Abstract

Objective: Analyze literature on the promotion and guarantee of sexual rights for older adults from a gender-based, intercultural, and intersectional approach. Methodology: An exploratory integrative review was conducted in five stages: 1) Problem identification guided by the SPIDER question framework; 2) Bibliographic search according to the PRISMA flowchart; 3) Evaluation of the quality of the studies using SANRA; 4) Analysis using Atlas.ti software; and 5) Presentation of the results. Results: Three categories emerged 47 papers: 1) Structural and health system elements focus on service access, medical training, and health policies on sexuality in old age; 2) social and cultural elements related to norms, taboos, and stigmatization; and 3) individual elements centered on personal factors such as beliefs, experiences, and physical and mental health status. Conclusions: To address sexuality in older adults, it is important to eliminate aging prejudices and stigmas. The guarantee of sexual rights at this stage of life demands inclusive health systems with policies on education, prevention, and diversity. The implementation of a gender, intercultural, and intersectional approach is important to promoting dignified and healthy development.

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Author Biographies

  • Johan Sebastián Villada Gómez, Universidad de Caldas

    Medical doctor. Specialist in Internal Medicine and Geriatrics; Specialist in Epidemiology. University of Caldas. 

  • Diana Carolina Ocampo Muñoz, Universidad de Caldas

    Medical doctor. Specialist in Clinical Sexology. University of Caldas. 

  • Diana Paola Betancurth Loaiza, Universidad de Caldas

    PhD in Public Health; Master's degree in Primary Health Care (PHC) Research and Nursing with an emphasis on Family Health; Specialist in Health Promotion and Health Administration; Nurse. Professor in the Department of Public Health at the University of Caldas

  • Lorena Gómez Giraldo, Universidad de Caldas

    Master's degree in Healthcare Quality Management; Specialist in Health Audit from the Autonomous University of Manizales; Nurse. Professor in the Department of Public Health at the University of Caldas.

  • Juan Andrés Arango Londoño, Universidad de Caldas

    Anthropologist. University of Caldas

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Published

2026-07-01

How to Cite

Breaking Myths About the Sexual Rights of OlderAdults: A Narrative Literature Review: Breaking Myths About the Sexual Rights of Older Adults: A Narrative Literature Review. (2026). ÁNFORA, 33(61), 239-270. https://doi.org/10.30854/anf.1261
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