How do new mothers describe their postpartum sexual quality of life? : a qualitative study

Rahmani, Azam; Fallahi, Arezoo; Allahqoli, Leila; Grylka, Susanne; Alkatout, Ibrahim

doi:10.1186/s12905-023-02619-2

Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-28791

Publication type:	Article in scientific journal
Type of review:	Open peer review
Title:	How do new mothers describe their postpartum sexual quality of life? : a qualitative study
Authors:	Rahmani, Azam Fallahi, Arezoo Allahqoli, Leila Grylka, Susanne Alkatout, Ibrahim
et. al:	No
DOI:	10.1186/s12905-023-02619-2 10.21256/zhaw-28791
Published in:	BMC Women's Health
Volume(Issue):	23
Issue:	1
Page(s):	477
Issue Date:	9-Sep-2023
Publisher / Ed. Institution:	BioMed Central
ISSN:	1472-6874
Language:	English
Subjects:	Iran; Postpartum sexual quality of life; Qualitative study; Switzerland; Pregnancy; Human; Female; Mother; Sexual behavior; Postpartum period; Quality of life; Cesarean section
Subject (DDC):	306: Culture 618: Gynecology, obstetrics and midwifery
Abstract:	Background: Sexuality plays a critical role in a woman’s postpartum quality of life and also has a strong impact on the quality of her relationship. Given the sparse body of published literature on the subject, we aimed to explore how new mothers explain their postpartum sexual quality of life. Method: A qualitative study was carried out in Iran and Switzerland from December 2018 to March 2019. Focus groups and semi-structured in-depth interviews (IDIs) were conducted with mothers in the first four months after parturition. Mothers who were older than 18 years, were married or in a stable relationship, and experienced a low-risk vaginal birth or cesarean section participated in the study. We used Graneheim and Lundman’s approach for analyzing the data. Multiple data collection methods, maximum variation sampling, and peer checks were applied to enhance the rigor of the data. Results: We achieved data saturation after two focus group discussions (FGDs), 15 IDIs in Iran, and 13 IDIs in Switzerland. We extracted three themes for postpartum sexual quality of life: (a) sexual worldview, (b) interpersonal relationship, and (c) postpartum sex storm. The participants described sexual worldview as “sexual beliefs”, “sexual perceptions”, and “sexual behaviors”. The interpersonal relationship consists of “changes in postpartum interpersonal relationships” and “supportive role of the husbands/partners”. The last one, postpartum sex storm, has three categories including “direct changes in sexual life”, “indirect changes in sexual life”, and “resumption of sexual intercourse”. Differences between the two cultures were identified in some subcategories such as “sexual interests”, “comparable to the first intercourse in life”, “negative sexual behaviors of husbands/partners”, “positive sexual behavior of mothers”, “helping with child care and housework”, and “emotional support”. Conclusion: New mothers explained postpartum sexual quality of life as a three-theme phenomenon. Although most results were similar in both cultures, there were some differences. Our study’s results suggest that sexual quality of life is a topic that encompasses international as well as cultural aspects.
URI:	https://digitalcollection.zhaw.ch/handle/11475/28791
Fulltext version:	Published version
License (according to publishing contract):	CC BY 4.0: Attribution 4.0 International
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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Rahmani, A., Fallahi, A., Allahqoli, L., Grylka, S., & Alkatout, I. (2023). How do new mothers describe their postpartum sexual quality of life? : a qualitative study. BMC Women’s Health, 23(1), 477. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12905-023-02619-2

Rahmani, A. et al. (2023) ‘How do new mothers describe their postpartum sexual quality of life? : a qualitative study’, BMC Women’s Health, 23(1), p. 477. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12905-023-02619-2.

A. Rahmani, A. Fallahi, L. Allahqoli, S. Grylka, and I. Alkatout, “How do new mothers describe their postpartum sexual quality of life? : a qualitative study,” BMC Women’s Health, vol. 23, no. 1, p. 477, Sep. 2023, doi: 10.1186/s12905-023-02619-2.

RAHMANI, Azam, Arezoo FALLAHI, Leila ALLAHQOLI, Susanne GRYLKA und Ibrahim ALKATOUT, 2023. How do new mothers describe their postpartum sexual quality of life? : a qualitative study. BMC Women’s Health. 9 September 2023. Bd. 23, Nr. 1, S. 477. DOI 10.1186/s12905-023-02619-2

Rahmani, Azam, Arezoo Fallahi, Leila Allahqoli, Susanne Grylka, and Ibrahim Alkatout. 2023. “How Do New Mothers Describe Their Postpartum Sexual Quality of Life? : A Qualitative Study.” BMC Women’s Health 23 (1): 477. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12905-023-02619-2.

Rahmani, Azam, et al. “How Do New Mothers Describe Their Postpartum Sexual Quality of Life? : A Qualitative Study.” BMC Women’s Health, vol. 23, no. 1, Sept. 2023, p. 477, https://doi.org/10.1186/s12905-023-02619-2.