Technology-enabled sexual health promotion for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities: protocol for a scoping review

Abstract

Introduction: Technology-enabled approaches are increasingly used to support health education, yet the extent and characteristics of digital interventions addressing sexual health promotion for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) remain unclear. Individuals with IDD often experience limited access to developmentally appropriate sexuality education, highlighting the need to understand how technology is being used to support learning, safety and autonomy. This scoping review aims to map peer-reviewed evidence on technology-enabled sexual health promotion for individuals with IDD, including intervention characteristics, target populations, sexual health content and reported outcomes. Methods and analysis: This protocol follows the Population–Concept–Context framework and is developed in accordance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Protocols (PRISMA-P) guidance; the scoping review will be reported using Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR). Electronic database searches will be conducted in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science and Embase for studies published in English between 2010 and 2025. The preliminary search strings were developed in consultation with a health sciences librarian and will be refined iteratively, if required, during the review process. Eligible studies will include peer-reviewed empirical research examining technology-enabled sexual health promotion for individuals with IDD. Two reviewers will independently conduct screening and data charting using Rayyan, with disagreements resolved through discussion and adjudication by a third reviewer. Data will be synthesised through descriptive mapping and thematic organisation. Given anticipated heterogeneity in technologies, settings and outcome measures, findings will be synthesised narratively rather than pooled quantitatively. Expert consultation will support interpretation without influencing study selection decisions. Ethics and dissemination: Ethical approval is not required as the review uses published literature only. Findings will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications and academic conferences to inform clinicians, educators, researchers and policymakers working in disability and sexual health. Trial registration number: Open Science Framework, DOI: 10.17605/OSF.IO/X7HQW.