The effect of counseling based on sexual health model on sexual function and dysfunctional sexual beliefs in primigravida women: A randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND

Pregnancy is one of the significant events in women's lives, exerting a negative impact on their sexual function due to hormonal, physical, and emotional changes and cultural and religious values. The present study was conducted to identify the effect of counseling based on the sexual health model on sexual function and dysfunctional sexual beliefs of primigravida mothers.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

This clinical trial used a parallel design wherein 56 primigravida mothers with 14 to 28 weeks of gestation who met the inclusion criteria and were referred to the health and treatment centers of Meibod were assigned to the counseling group (28 mothers) and control group (28 mothers). In so doing, four sessions of 60-90 min were held weekly for the counseling group, and an educational booklet was provided for the control group. The Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) Questionnaire and Dysfunctional Sexual Beliefs Questionnaire were used. The questionnaires were completed before intervention and 2 and 4 weeks after intervention. Data were analyzed using SPSS, independent t-tests, and Mann-Whitney and Wilcoxon tests (P = 0.05).

RESULTS

The results indicated that the counseling and control groups were homogeneous in terms of all variables at the beginning of the study (baseline). FSFI was 17.68 ± 1.94 and 18.74 ± 1.76 in the intervention and control groups, respectively (P = 0.52). Nevertheless, there was a statistically significant difference between the mean scores of FSFI in counseling and control groups 2 weeks after the intervention (25.88 ± 1.68 and 19.05 ± 1.26) (P < 0.001) and 4 weeks after it (26.37 ± 1.53 and 19.17 ± 0.27) (P < 0.001). Furthermore, the mean score of dysfunctional sexual beliefs of women in the counseling group was 22.84 ± 3.84, 18.68 ± 2.70, and 16.08 ± 3.46 in the baseline, after the intervention, and during the follow-up period, respectively (P < 0.001). However, in the control group, 23.40 ± 4.00, 22.70 ± 3.01, and 22.00 ± 4.26, respectively (P > 0.001), were obtained.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of the study showed that counseling based on a sexual health model could be effective in diminishing ineffective sexual beliefs and improving the sexual function of primigravida mothers. Therefore, it is recommended that midwives conduct counseling based on the sexual health model to reduce ineffective beliefs and promote the sexual function of primigravida mothers in all health and treatment centers.