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Publication type:	Conference paper
Type of review:	Peer review (abstract)
Title:	Postpartum sexual quality of life in Iranian and Swiss women
Authors:	Grylka, Susanne Fallahi, Arezoo Rahmani, Azam
et. al:	No
Conference details:	32nd ICM Virtual Triennial Congress, online, 30 June 2021
Issue Date:	30-Jun-2021
Language:	English
Subjects:	Sexualität; Postpartum; Sexuelle Lebensqualität; Kulturelle Unterschiede
Subject (DDC):	306: Culture 618: Gynecology, obstetrics and midwifery
Abstract:	BACKGROUND Sexual quality of life is an important aspect of women’s health and wellbeing but might be impaired after having given birth. Sexual dysfunction is prevalent during the postpartum period. However, little is known about factors affecting postpartum sexual quality of life and about variations in postpartum sexuality in different cultural contexts. OBJECTIVES To explore the most important factors related to women’s sexual quality of life during the postpartum period among Iranian and Swiss mothers. METHODS Qualitative study using individual interviews and focus group discussions with 24 Iranian and 13 Swiss primiparous women at three months after having given birth. We used conventional content analysis and investigated differences between countries. RESULTS Codes were summarised in seven themes: ‘Self-awareness’, ‘Married/partnership life before pregnancy’, ‘Married/partnership life in the context of parenthood’, ‘Sexual worldview’, ‘Sexual performance before giving birth’, ‘Sexual storm after childbirth’ and ‘An earthquake in the life of a mother after childbirth’. Marital life was more important for Iranian than for Swiss women. Additionally, accepting husband’s request despite the lack of readiness was regarded as a positive behaviour of women in Iran but rarely quoted in Switzerland. However, the adaptation of sexual behaviour to the postpartum situation (e.g. sexual position, variety or timing) was relevant aspect for Swiss mothers. Lack of time, a demanding child, tiredness, mood swings but also pain were mentioned in both countries as factors leading to a decreased sexual activity during the postpartum period. CONCLUSIONS Three months after birth, many women did not find back to the same level of sexual activities than before pregnancy. Cultural differences showed variations in sexual behaviour. KEY MESSAGE Knowledge about factors affecting postpartum sexual quality of life is important, because women complain a lack of information and counselling about sexuality after childbirth. Postpartum care should consider sexual quality of life as an additional topic.
URI:	https://digitalcollection.zhaw.ch/handle/11475/23340
Fulltext version:	Published version
License (according to publishing contract):	Licence according to publishing contract
Departement:	School of Health Sciences
Organisational Unit:	Institute of Midwifery and Reproductive Health (IHG)
Published as part of the ZHAW project:	Sexuelle Lebensqualität in der postpartalen Phase
Appears in collections:	Publikationen Gesundheit

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