Social innovation in sexual health: a scoping review towards ending the HIV epidemic

• Published in: Sexual health Vol. 18; no. 1; pp. 5 - 12
• Main Authors: Srinivas, Megan L, Ritchwood, Tiarney D, Zhang, Tiange P, Li, Jingjing, Tucker, Joseph D
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Australia CSIRO 01.03.2021
• Subjects: Acquired immune deficiency syndrome; AIDS; Condoms; Cost analysis; Crowdsourcing; Disease prevention; Efficacy; Employment; Empowerment; Entrepreneurs; Entrepreneurship; Epidemics; Financial support; HIV; Human immunodeficiency virus; Infections; Innovations; Job opportunities; Microfinance; Sex industry; Sexual health; Sexually transmitted diseases; Skill development; Social change; Social entrepreneurship; Social innovation; Social interactions; STD; Workers; Asia; India
• ISSN: 1448-5028; 1449-8987
• DOI: 10.1071/SH20030

As donor financial support decreases, ending the HIV epidemic in Asia will require novel and sustainable approaches. Social innovation, a community-engaged process that links social change and health improvement, may be useful for helping to end the HIV epidemic in Asia. A scoping review to examine social innovation strategies in sexual health for the Asian region was conducted. The research identified focused on three types of social innovation: (1) microfinance; (2) social entrepreneurship; and (3) social enterprise. Microfinance provides financial opportunities (e.g. banking services, job opportunities) to spur local entrepreneurship and healthier behaviours. Social entrepreneurship uses business principles and tools (e.g. crowdsourcing, human-centred design) to improve health. Social enterprise is a business with a social mission. Further research is needed to measure the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of social innovation strategies in improving HIV services.