Sexual Health Risks in International Travel
Summary
International travel exposes individuals to diverse sexual health risks driven by behavioural, epidemiological and sociocultural factors. Travellers may engage in casual or transactional sex, often influenced by anonymity, alcohol or drug use, and disrupted social norms. Regions with high prevalence of HIV, bacterial sexually transmitted infections (STIs) or emerging antibiotic-resistant strains pose heightened risk, particularly for those with multiple partners or inconsistent condom use. Mobile populations such as expatriates, seasonal workers and tourists frequently lack tailored pre-travel advice on STI prevention, leading to gaps in immunisation, screening and prophylactic measures. Digital platforms and peer networks can both amplify risk perceptions and serve as vectors for health promotion. Effective intervention strategies combine comprehensive sexual education, access to condoms, pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and rapid testing services. Surveillance of travel-associated infections and cross-border collaboration are essential to monitor trends, guide policy and reduce the global burden of HIV, chlamydia, gonorrhoea and other STIs.
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Sexual Health Risks in International Travel publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in sexual health risks in international travel across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Sexually transmitted infection (STI): infection transmitted through sexual contact, including bacterial, viral or parasitic agents.
Blood-borne virus (BBV): virus transmitted via blood or bodily fluids, such as HIV or hepatitis B.
Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP): preventive medication taken by HIV-negative individuals to reduce the risk of HIV infection.
Casual sexual partnership: non-committed sexual encounter, often occurring during travel, without long-term relational expectations.
References
- Prevention of HIV and Other Sexually Transmissible Infections in Expatriates and Traveler Networks: Qualitative Study of Peer Interaction in an Online Forum. Journal of Medical Internet Research (2018).
- HIV, Other Blood-Borne Viruses and Sexually Transmitted Infections amongst Expatriates and Travellers to Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Systematic Review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (2016).
- Sun, sea and sex: a review of the sex tourism literature. Tropical Diseases, Travel Medicine and Vaccines (2020).
- Key informant perspectives on sexual health services for travelling young adults: a qualitative study. BMC Health Services Research (2022).
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