Grindr, virtual reality and vlogging: new ways to talk about sexual health
The first Global Advisory Board for Sexual Health and Wellbeing brings together a group of individuals who are using innovative ways to reach more people with information about sex and relationships. Here are some of the projects they’ve been working on:
Grindr to reach patients at risk of HIV in the US
Usigli thought about using Grindr, a dating app for gay men, to raise awareness of HIV. He set up a profile as a male nurse to tell at-risk patients about the services offered at the clinic. He then developed a script for healthcare professionals to use.
The success rate has been astonishingly high. In the first month of using the app in this way, more than 20 new at-risk patients came to the clinic for a variety of preventative services, such as sexual health counselling, HIV/STI testing and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP).
Virtual sex education aimed at overcoming societal taboos in India
In India, there are high levels of domestic violence , mostly against women. Both women and men refuse to report such crimes to the police.
In June 2017, Love Matters, a website providing information on relationships, sex and love, produced India’s first virtual reality immersive experience on physical, sexual or psychological harm by a current or former partner or spouse. The film, Kya Yahi Pyar Hai? (Is this love?), uses VR to narrate a powerful story and connect with young people.
See the full story here: https://www.theguardian.com/healthcare-network/2017/jul/21/grindr-virtual-reality-vlogging-new-ways-talk-sexual-health