Let’s Talk about Sexual Health Literacy and Occupational Therapy

In this episode of OT JEDI, we explore a critical but often overlooked topic—sexual health literacy among older adults living with HIV. Joined by occupational therapists Riley David and Dr. Kathryn Burke, we dive into their pilot study evaluating occupation-based sexual health education programs. We discuss how knowledge, stigma, fear, and pleasure intersect in the lives of older adults, and how occupational therapy can play a key role in fostering safe, empowered, and fulfilling intimate experiences.

Resources

The Network for LGBTQIA+ Concerns in Occupational Therapy | Queer Health

The Capstone Collective

Follow Dr. Burke on Instagram @otkate or find her at Johnson & Wales University

References

David, R. & Burke, K. (2025, April 5). Evaluating the effectiveness of
occupation-based programming on the sexual health literacy of older adults living with HIV [Poster session]. American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) Inspire, Philadelphia, PA. https://tinyurl.com/y96srmd4