EXAMINING PREDICTIVE FACTORS OF THE STUDENT MIDWIVES' ATTITUDES AND BELIEFS ABOUT SEXUALITY DURING PREGNANCY WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF SEXUAL COUNSELING

Abstract

Pregnant women and their partners are especially vulnerable to the long-term decrease in sexual activity due to pregnancy-related symptoms and/or negative beliefs and attitudes affecting sexuality. In this regard, sexual consultation and attitudes of consultant about sexuality are an important point for especially midwives. This study aims to examine predictive factors of the student midwives' attitudes and beliefs about sexuality during pregnancy within the framework of sexual counseling role. The study was designed as a cross-sectional and descriptive web based survey. The study was conducted with 365 undergraduate midwifery students enrolled in a public university. Student midwives had medium-level negative attitudes and beliefs about sexuality during pregnancy. The presence of the attitudes and beliefs about sexuality during pregnancy was found to be associated with sexual counseling comfort (p<0.01). Regression models showed that having adequate knowledge about sexual counseling, experience of presenting this knowledge, cultural doctrines, sexual information topics and time of initiating counseling were effective predictors of the decrease in negative attitudes and beliefs in sexuality during pregnancy (R=0.196-0.361, p<0.01). Findings showed that individual attitudes and beliefs during pregnancy can affect counseling skills and content.