Korean J Women Health Nurs.  2019 Mar;25(1):73-85. 10.4069/kjwhn.2019.25.1.73.

Factors Affecting the Sexual Function of Pregnant Women

• Oh EJ
• Kim MJ

• KMID: 2449872
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4069/kjwhn.2019.25.1.73

Abstract

PURPOSE
To determine whether maternal attitude toward sex during pregnancy and health-related quality of life could influence sexual function of pregnant women.
METHODS
In this study, 138 second and third trimester pregnant women completed self-report questionnaires during their visits to women's hospitals or community health centers to assess their general characteristics, attitude toward sex during pregnancy (PIES-M), health-related quality of life (EQ-5D), and sexual function (FSFI-6K). Multiple regression analysis was performed to test the research model with SPSS version 23.
RESULTS
Pregnant women who had discontinued their sexual life after recognizing their pregnancy accounted for 27.5% of women questioned. The average sexual function score of pregnant women was higher in the second trimester than the third trimester. Attitude toward sex during pregnancy (β=−.38, p< .001), maintaining sexual life (β=.20, p=.028), health-related quality of life (β=.18, p=.030), and adverse symptoms during sex (β=.18, p=.042) were determinants of sexual function during pregnancy.
CONCLUSION
Nurses in antenatal care units need to help pregnant women maintain a positive attitude toward sexual activity during pregnancy and manage their health-related quality of life to maintain their sexual life during pregnancy.

Keyword

Pregnancy; Sexual behavior; Attitude; Health

MeSH Terms

Community Health Centers
Female
Humans
Pregnancy
Pregnancy Trimester, Second
Pregnancy Trimester, Third
Pregnant Women*
Quality of Life
Sexual Behavior

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