Aspects of Sexual Life in Patients After Burn

Abstract

Burn patients are rendered with physical as well as mental scars; the latter usually are more protean in their manifestations. Rehabilitation after burn can be a grueling experience and the associated stress can blemish the patient's sexuality and intimacy. There is dearth of literature regarding the quality of sexual life after burn as well as sexual rehabilitation; it is fully known that a healthy sexual life is intricately related to a person's mental well being and a sexually compromised person can never be totally happy. The objective of this study was to ascertain the degree of satisfaction in postburn patients regarding their sexual lives, parameters associated with sexual dissatisfaction, if present, and ways to address the same. Quality of sexual life was investigated by making burn patients answer the Maudsley Marital Questionnaire (the sexual scale only) 6 months after burn. A control group of nonburn patients matched with the cases was made to answer the same and values were compared for significance. Results of the Maudsley Marital Questionnaire sexual scale were obtained for both groups and compared by means of a χ test (Pearson). The results were found to be highly significant, and there was a marked difference in the values of the two groups (χ = 117.8945, two-tailed P < .0001). A readily palpable deterioration in the sexual lives of burn patients is the most significant finding of this study. Also highlighted were the sociodemographic characteristics of this sexually suffering group and various other relevant parameters.