Table 3 Needs and perceptions of health care providers and service recipients on the prerequisites of sexual health literacy promoting services

Client-oriented service

Appropriateness of service to clients’ needs

• The need for counseling on sexual issues

• Requesting information to have safe sex [2]

• Provision of information through health care centers bearing in mind each age group’s needs

Appropriateness of service to clients’ age and sex

•The necessity of sexual health education based on individuals age and sex

• Sexually educating men appropriate to their age

Appropriateness of service to clients’ sociocultural background

• The impact of religious factors on dealing with sexual issues

• Notification and education of sexual matters to obviate unnecessary shame and modesty

Efficient service

Continuing sexual education-based service

• The need for continuous sexual education delivered by service providers

• The need for continuous education of sexual information to all individuals of the society

Integrated service

• Integration of sexual health education into other health services

• Teaching sexual health to individuals simultaneously alongside other health services

Professional service

• Specialized education of sexual health to service providers

• Service providers in the sexual health domain should possess adequate knowledge and communication skills

• Correcting the belief that reception of sexual information is obscene

Service reconstructing sexual attitude

• Correcting public attitudes and misconceptions about sexual matters

Team service

• Time-saving and clients convenience in working with teams

• The necessity of teamwork between the midwife and psychologist in centers to solve clients’ problems

Follow-up service

• Service delivery to clients based on follow-up

• Using text messaging to send reminders and following up clients