(209) Sexual Knowledge, Attitude and Practices in Women Attending OBG Out Patient Department and Its Effect on Sexual Dysfunctions

Abstract

Abstract Introduction In India, despite significant advances in the prevention and treatment of sexual dysfunctions, the majority of these have focused on male sexual dysfunction disorders. There is still a paucity of literature that adequately explains the relationship between sexual knowledge and attitudes of women and female sexual dysfunctions. Furthermore, physiological events such as pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, menopause, and ageing have a significant impact on sexual well-being, particularly when co-morbid psychiatric illnesses are present. The prevalence of these interactions and their relationship with female sexual dysfunctions are being explored which have consequences in the prevention and treatment of female sexual dysfunctions Objective 1. To assess sexual health knowledge and attitudes regarding sexual practices in women attending Obstetrics and Gynecology Out Patient Department. 2. To assess presence and extent of sexual dysfunctions in these women 3. To evaluate for presence of co-morbid psychiatric conditions Methods Hospital based cross-sectional study with a sample size of 220 women in the category of pregnant, nulliparous and perimenopause/ menopause/ post menopause with age range from 18 to 65 years. Pregnancy carrying high risk and women nearing term were excluded from the study. After a detailed history regarding their socio-economic data, each of them were handed out questionnaires. The SKAQ-II (Sexual knowledge and attitude questionnaire), which was standardized using Indian population assessed their sexual knowledge and attitude, the Female Sexual Functioning Index scale (FSFI) evaluated sexual dysfunction and the presence of psychiatric comorbidities was assessed with the M.I.N.I PLUS scale. Results 93% of the women had an adequate amount of knowledge regarding sexual practice and 83.2% had liberal attitude. Level of sexual knowledge and attitude was positively correlated with presence of sexual dysfunction, with the prevalence of latter being 65.5% with 63% of pregnant women having sexual dysfunction and 77.8% of menopausal women having sexual dysfunction. Rural women had lower levels of sexual knowledge and conservative attitude towards sexual practice, leading to more sexual problems. Around one-fourth of women reported psychiatric morbidities with majority suffering from depression. Conclusions Women with greater sexual knowledge and a liberal mindset towards sexual practices tend to have lower levels of sexual dysfunction. Rural women tended to have lower levels of sexual knowledge and poor attitude towards sexual practice. There was no association found between religious attitudes. Most dysfunctions were reported by the menopausal age group. Sexual issues were more common in the domains of desire, lubrication, orgasm and pain. A positive correlation was noted between sexual dysfunction and kind of housing, leading to lack of intimacy being an important contributing factor. Disclosure No