Social innovation in sexual health: a scoping review towards ending the HIV epidemic.
Srinivas, Megan L;
Ritchwood, Tiarney D;
Zhang, Tiange P;
Li, Jingjing;
Tucker, Joseph D;
(2021)
Social innovation in sexual health: a scoping review towards ending the HIV epidemic.
Sexual health, 18 (1).
pp. 5-12.
ISSN 1448-5028
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1071/SH20030
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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.