Effect of a Sex Education Package on Sexual Belief and Function in Pregnant Women: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Abstract

Abstract: Background: Due to Lack of information about the couple's marital relationship during pregnancy, lack of training protocol documented in this regard, desire for national authorities to develop and implement such protocol and limited studies in this field, this study aimed to determine the effectiveness of sex education on sexual beliefs and function in pregnant women. Methods: 88 women in their 8 to 14 weeks of pregnancy were randomly allocated into two groups of intervention and control. In the intervention group a midwife carried out sex education in two 60 minutes lecture session and group discussions for the participants. Moreover, educational booklet were distributed at the end of the first session and couple's questions were answered by telephone. In the control group women were taught nutritional education with the same procedure. Data were assessed by using an instrument including self –administered questionnaires about sexual belief and sexual function was evaluated using the female sexual function index (FSFI). The participants completed questionnaires in four time points, before intervention, 4 weeks after intervention, 22-28 and 63-40 weeks of gestational age. Data were analyzed using SPSS –ver13 by chi square, student's-t, repeated measure and analysis of Covariance tests, Cochran test and binary logistic regression. Results: At the baseline, there were no significant differences between the groups in terms of demographic characteristics, mean sexual belief and function scores. After education, the mean (SD) score of sexual belief in 1 & 2 stage and the mean of total score of sexual function in 1, 2 & 3 stage was significantly higher in the intervention compared with the control group. Such a significant difference also existed in all the six domains of sexual function, i.e. desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction and pain. Conclusion: Using educational package during routine pre natal care, by health care workers can improve couples sexual health during pregnancy.