Female sexual outcomes in primiparous women after vaginal delivery and cesarean section

Background: Sexual function is an essential component of life and yet very little is known about the relationships between the female sexuality and the mode of delivery.Objective: To compare sexual outcomes after vaginal delivery and cesarean section.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on women in two stages; early pregnancy and 3 to 6 months after delivery in health centers. Female sexual outcomes evaluated were female Sexual Function Index scores and the time required to resume sexual activities after delivery.Results: Sexual function did not differ significantly among two groups vaginal delivery n=90 and cesarean section n = 113 with regard to duration of marriage, educational level, contraception methods, and occupational status p = 0.8.The mean timing of the resumption of sexual activity was 8.9 ± 1.3, and there was no substantial conflict between the two groups. Mean frequency of intercourse in the post-partum period was 1.8±1.2 times per week with significant difference compared to pre pregnancy P<0.05. The individual domain scores after the delivery was significantly lower in comparison with pre-pregnancy p<0.004.Conclusion: No differences in sexual outcomes between vaginal delivery and cesarean section. Consequently cesarean section cannot be recommended in the view of maintenance of normal sexuality after child birth.Keywords: Women’s health, cesarean section, post-partum, vaginal delivery, female sexual functio

Female sexual outcomes in primiparous women after vaginal delivery and cesarean section

Background: Sexual function is an essential component of life and yet very little is known about the relationships between the female sexuality and the mode of delivery. Objective: To compare sexual outcomes after vaginal delivery and cesarean section. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on women in two stages; early pregnancy and 3 to 6 months after delivery in health centers. Female sexual outcomes evaluated were female Sexual Function Index scores and the time required to resume sexual activities after delivery. Results: Sexual function did not differ significantly among two groups vaginal delivery n=90 and cesarean section n = 113 with regard to duration of marriage, educational level, contraception methods, and occupational status p = 0.8.The mean timing of the resumption of sexual activity was 8.9 \ub1 1.3, and there was no substantial conflict between the two groups. Mean frequency of intercourse in the post-partum period was 1.8\ub11.2 times per week with significant difference compared to pre pregnancy P<0.05. The individual domain scores after the delivery was significantly lower in comparison with pre-pregnancy p<0.004. Conclusion: No differences in sexual outcomes between vaginal delivery and cesarean section. Consequently cesarean section cannot be recommended in the view of maintenance of normal sexuality after child birth

The Relationship between Depression and Metabolic Syndrome in the Elderly Population: The Cohort Aging Study

Objective: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) and depression are two important causes of disability in the elderly. The association between MetS and depressive symptoms in Iranian elderly is unclear. In this population-based study, we aimed at evaluating the relationship between MetS and its components with depression in Iranian elderly population. Method: This cross sectional study was derived from Amirkola Health and Ageing Project (AHAP).The participants of this study included 1560 elders over the age of 60 during 2012 and 2013. MetS was diagnosed based on Adult Treatment Panel III report and depressive symptoms according to Geriatric Depression Scale. Odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) based on age and gender were estimated using regression logistic model. Results: Depressive symptoms were observed in 28.7% of men and 46.2% of women. Age- and gender-adjusted OR of depressive symptoms did not show a significant difference among the participants with or without MetS. A significant association between MetS components (including waist circumference, HDL-C, fasting blood glucose, triglyceride) and depressive symptoms was observed, but this association no longer existed after age and gender adjustment. Elevated blood pressure revealed a significant relationship with depressive symptoms in men only (OR, 0.665; 95% CI, 0.469-0.943). Conclusion: Depressive symptoms were associated with blood pressure component but not MetS in the elderly population of Amirkola, Iran. This association highlights the relevance of norepinephrine signal and sympathetic nervous activity disturbance for the emergence of depressive symptoms in the elderly. Therefore, it is reasonable to consider depression in hypertensive patients, especially in men

Effectiveness of Group Psychosexual Training for Marital Adjustment and Sexual Self-Efficacy of Infertile Women: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Objective: Infertility can be associated with unfavorable psychological consequences such as a sense of marital incompatibility and sexual inadequacy. To address these issues, this study aimed to assess the effectiveness of group psycho-sexual training in improving marital adjustment and sexual self-efficacy of infertile women. Method: A randomized controlled clinical trial (RCT) study was conducted in Babol, Iran, with 72 infertile women, randomly assigned to either the intervention group (n = 36) or the control group (n = 36). The intervention group underwent psychosexual training, while the control group received routine care. The Dyadic Adjustment Scale (DAS) and Sexual Self-Efficacy Scale (SSES) were used to assess their marital adjustment and sexual self-efficacy. Data analysis was performed using various tests, including the independent t-test, Chi-squared test, paired t-test, ANCOVA, and MANCOVA. Results: Most infertile women had moderate sexual self-efficacy (80%). The intervention group had a significantly better response to group psycho-sexual training compared to the control group. This intervention improved sexual self-efficacy and marital adjustment and its subscales including marital consensus, satisfaction, cohesion (P < 0.0001), and affectional expression (P < 0.001). The mean pre-to-post treatment scores of sexual self- efficacy, marital adjustment, and its subscales increased significantly in the intervention group, while no significant difference was observed in the control group (P < 0.0001). Conclusion: Based on the findings, it is recommended to provide educational services alongside the infertility treatment process for enhancing the quality of marital adjustment and promoting sexual self-efficacy

Factors influencing hygienic practices during menses among girls from South India: A cross sectional study

Menstruation is a natural phenomenon among matured females who experience shedding of blood for 1-7 days every month from the age of maturity until menopause. Menstrual hygiene and management is an issue that is insufficiently acknowledged and has not received adequate attention. Aims and Objectives: This study seeks to assess hygienic behavior of unmarried females aged 15 to 22 years and factors affecting their behaviors. Study Design: A cross-sectional study was conducted during 2009-10 on 350 students. They were recruited from educational institutions from a major city in South India. Demographic and menstrual history and hygiene questionnaires were used for obtaining required information. Statistical Packages for the Social Sciences (SPSS) for Windows version 16 was used. Descriptive statistics, Chi-sq and Fisher’s exact tests were used for analysis. Results: Mean age of menarche was 13.4±1.2 years; disposable pads were used by two-thirds of the selected girls (68.9%) regardless of age while 45.1% reported to use both disposable and non disposable materials. Frequency of changing pads was 2-3 times a day by 78.3% girls. Socioeconomic Status (SES) of the selected girls and their age influenced choice of napkin/pads and other practices such as storage place of napkins; change during night and during school or college hours and personal hygiene. Older girls had better hygienic practices than the younger ones. Seventy six percent of the participants desired for more information regarding menstruation and hygienic practices. Conclusion: A variety of factors are known to affect menstrual behaviors most influential being age and SES. Awareness regarding the need for information about healthy menstrual practices is on rise among young women. It is probable that a mechanism be introduced to provide knowledge about menstrual health and self maintenance among women

Employment Status of Midwifery Graduates of Babol University of Medical Sciences

Introduction. One of the important economical and social problems of our society is employment situation of higher education graduates which is necessary to consider for the development of future plans. This study aims to determine the employment situation of midwifery graduates in Babol University of Medical Sciences. Methods. In this cross-sectional survey, a questionnaire was sent to all midwifery graduates who had entered the university between 1992-1997 (n=120). A total number of 82 filled questionnaires were returned. The data analysis was done with SPSS-10 software using frequency distribution and Chi2 test. Results. Based on the results, 51.3% of subjects were employed which nearly half of them were spending their mandatory services. Statistical data revealed a significant relationship between the year of graduation and being employed. Twenty two point five percent of employed graduates worked in jobs other than midwifery. Eighty two point nine percent of them were employed at government section, 17.1% at private section and 75.9% of them did not have any office. There was a significant relationship between quota of acceptance to the university and the desire to work in deprived areas. Most midwives did not have any desire to work in the deprived areas, and in the case of having the opportunity to choose again, they would not choose midwifery as their future career. Conclusion. The unemployment rate between midwifery graduates of Babol medical university is high. So, it is recommended to provide them with appropriate job opportunities, and employ young graduates in counseling clinics for maternity car

Prevalence of use of medicinal plants and its relationship with health literacy and attitude among pregnant women

Introduction: Women are the main users of medicinal plants and they usually continue using them during pregnancy without considering the potential maternal and fetal risks. The present study was performed with aim to determine the frequency of consumption of medicinal plants and its relationship with health literacy and attitude of pregnant women towards medicinal plants. Methods: This descriptive-analytical and retrospective study was conducted in 2022 on 322 pregnant women who visited the hospitals in the west of Mazandaran for delivery. Data collection tools was questionnaire that the first part included the demographic characteristics and the pattern of medicinal plant consumption, the second part was the attitude toward the consumption of medicinal plants, and the third part was the health literacy. Data were analyzed by SPSS software (version 25) and Independent t and Chi-square tests. P<0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Among 322 pregnant women participated in this study, 134 (41.6%) consumed medicinal plants during pregnancy. The most common reason for consumption was digestive problems. Mint and borage were the most commonly used herbs. The first and third trimesters of pregnancy were the most common times of consuming herbs (65.5%). No relationship was found between the frequency of consumption with demographic characteristics and health literacy, but a significant relationship was found between frequency of consumption and attitude towards medicinal plants (P<0.001). Conclusion: Considering the relationship between prevalence of medicinal plant consumption and attitude towards medicinal plants, and lack of the relationship with health literacy, it is necessary to take a fundamental action to improve the attitude and raise the awareness of pregnant women regarding the use of medicinal plants

Clinical Education Problems: the Viewpoints of Midwifery Students in Babol Medical University

Introduction: Clinical education is a complicated process which is affected by many factors and variables. Since, recognizing the problems is the first step towards reducing them, a study was designed to determine the viewpoints of midwifery students about clinical education problems in Babol Medical University. Methods: In a cross sectional descriptive study, 55 last year midwifery students were selected by census sampling method. The data collection tool was a valid and reliable questionnaire containing 32 items asking about clinical education problems. The scale of the questionnaire was as yes, sometimes, and no. The data was analyzed by SPSS software using descriptive statistics and Chi2. Results: Eighty one point eight percent believed that clinical education in midwifery had some problems among which 40% were indicated as high and 41.8% as moderate. Seventy two point seven percent considered clinical education poor in facilities and environmental factors and faced with a lot of problems. Eighty seven point three percent related clinical education problems to trainers’ problems, 83.6% indicated some problems in theoretical pre-clinical courses, 74.5% related the problems to hospital and health centers’ personnel, and 83.7% of subjects felt some problems in clinical evaluation. Conclusion: Lack of expert clinical trainers, and problems in pre-clinical courses and clinical evaluation were the most significant clinical education problems based on the view points of midwifery students in Babol Medical University

Sexual function among married menopausal women in Amol (Iran)

Background: Sexual activity is an important part of the human being′s life but this instinct could be influenced by some factors such as diseases, drug using, aging, and menopause. But information about that is limited. Aim: The aim of this study is to determine the status of sexual activity among married menopausal women in Amol, Iran. Materials and Methods: This descriptive analytical study was conducted to describe the sexual activity and sexual dysfunction of women after menopause. Data were collected from health centers in Amol from 280 married women using a questionnaire (self-completed or by interview). Finding: Mean age of subjects were 55.9 ± 6.02 years. 23.4% of subjects reported that their sexual intercourse had been low. 70% of subjects reported a decrease in their sexual activities after menopause. Sexual dysfunctions includes sexual desire disorder 80% arousal dysfunction 80%, orgasmic dysfunction 25%, dyspareunia 55.6%, and lack of sexual satisfaction 43.2%. Conclusion: Findings revealed high percentage of sexual desire disorder and sexual arousal disorder in menopausal women. Therefore, we should have emphasis on counseling and education about sexual activities during the menopause period