Abstract
Background: Disabled women constitute approximately 16% of all women in Europe. Regardless of disability level women are interested in maintaining sexual activity. The study aim was to compare, understand if there are sexual health
disparities between disabled women and non-disabled women.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in non-governmental associations and the general practitioner's office in Latvia from November 2018 to January 2019. Data were collected from self-filled questionnaires of 34 DW and 34 NDW.
Results: The mean age of NDW was 32 years and 43 years for DW. 73.5% of DW and 41.2% of NDW were partially satisfied with their sex life, p=0.009. 47.1% of DW and 32.4% of NDW admitted having an irregular sex life, p=0.002.
58.8% of NDW and 29.4% of DW had last sexual intercourse within 6 days period, p=0.011. 67.6% NDW and 20.6% DW thought their sex life will improve in future, p=0.001. 70.6% of DW was interested in maintaining sexual relations
as well as 91.2% of NDW. 20.6% of DW was interested in maintaining sexual relationships but less than before disability. 29.4% of respondents from both groups noted that the level of disability or other health disorders had little
impact on their sexual health. 8.8% of disabled women and 2.9% of non-disabled women had severe symptoms of depression.
Conclusions: The study demonstrated that NDW had regular sex life and were more satisfied with it than DW. Regardless of the state of health women were interested in maintaining sexual activity.
disparities between disabled women and non-disabled women.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in non-governmental associations and the general practitioner's office in Latvia from November 2018 to January 2019. Data were collected from self-filled questionnaires of 34 DW and 34 NDW.
Results: The mean age of NDW was 32 years and 43 years for DW. 73.5% of DW and 41.2% of NDW were partially satisfied with their sex life, p=0.009. 47.1% of DW and 32.4% of NDW admitted having an irregular sex life, p=0.002.
58.8% of NDW and 29.4% of DW had last sexual intercourse within 6 days period, p=0.011. 67.6% NDW and 20.6% DW thought their sex life will improve in future, p=0.001. 70.6% of DW was interested in maintaining sexual relations
as well as 91.2% of NDW. 20.6% of DW was interested in maintaining sexual relationships but less than before disability. 29.4% of respondents from both groups noted that the level of disability or other health disorders had little
impact on their sexual health. 8.8% of disabled women and 2.9% of non-disabled women had severe symptoms of depression.
Conclusions: The study demonstrated that NDW had regular sex life and were more satisfied with it than DW. Regardless of the state of health women were interested in maintaining sexual activity.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 15-19 |
| Number of pages | 5 |
| Journal | International Journal of Reproduction, Contraception, Obstetrics and Gynecology |
| Volume | 11 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Jan 2022 |
Keywords*
- Sexual health, Disabled women, Non disabled women
Field of Science*
- 3.2 Clinical medicine
- 3.3 Health sciences
Publication Type*
- 1.4. Reviewed scientific article published in Latvia or abroad in a scientific journal with an editorial board (including university editions)