Assessment of sexual reproductive health and related factors in women with systemic lupus erythematosus

Abstract

Abstract Title: Assessment of sexual reproductive health, and related factors in women with systemic lupus erythematosus Background and aim: Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune, systemic and chronic disease that causes dysfunction of various body organs with multi-system involvement. This study was conducted with the aim of investigating sexual reproductive health and related factors in women with systemic lupus erythematosus. Materials and Methods: This research was a cross-sectional (descriptive-analytical) study that was conducted on 240 women of reproductive age with SLE. The data was randomly collected by completing an online questionnaire from women referring to the rheumatology clinic of Shariati Hospital in Tehran and the Lupus Society of Iran using the RHASLE reproductive health and demographic questionnaire then it was entered into SPSS software version 26 and were analyzed with Pearson, one-way analysis of variance, independent t test and multiple linear regression at a significance level of P < 0.05. Results: In this study, the mean age of women was 36.21 (5.98), and their mean reproductive health score was 223.07 (59.62). The variables that had a significant relationship with most dimensions and RHASLE total score were marital and life status (P=0.011), women education (P=0.017), grade and duration of SLE (P=0.038), and other diseases associated with SLE (P=0.047). The severe degree of SLE had a predictive effect on total RHASLE (β : -0.369 ;95% confidence interval(95% CI):1.20-15.03; P= 0.023), physical-psychological disorders (β : -0.63 ;95% confidence interval(95% CI):-50.44 to -21.61; P<0.001), spirituality (β:0.477 ;95% confidence interval(95% CI):1.76-9.17; P= 0.005) and high-risk pregnancy (β:-0.30;95% confidence interval(95% CI):-6.17 to -0.45; P= 0.023). Also, the mild or moderate degree of the disease was a predictor of changes in physical-psychological disorders (β:-0.71 ;95% confidence interval (95% CI):-59.70 to -21.61; P<0.001). These predictors were significant at the 95% confidence level. Conclusion: This research investigated the factors related to the reproductive and sexual health of women with lupus and it proved that the degree of disease, women's education level and the presence of other diseases at the same time as SLE has the most predictive relationship with the overall score of reproductive health. Rather, it can take a step towards improving the health outcomes of lupus patients and increasing the awareness of rheumatologists, midwives, nurses and health care workers in improving the management of these patients' problems. Keywords: reproductive health, sexual health, women, quality of sexual life, systemic lupus erythematosus