Abstract:

The aim of this study is to determine the effect of reproductive health protective attitudes of married women on their sexual lives. 320 married women who were admitted to the gynecology policlinics of a hospital in the Black Sea Region, were recruited for this descriptive and correlational study. The data were collected using the Descriptive Information Form, the Reproductive Health Protective Attitudes of Married Women (RHPAS), and the Arizona Sexual Experiences Scale (ASEX). The descriptive statistical methods and parametric tests were utilized in the analysis of analyze the data. Informed written consent was obtained from the participants, and permission to use the scale and ethics committee approval were received. The mean score was 122.91±23.88 for the structured RHPAS and 18.76±5.63 for the ASEX. 94.1% had problems in their sexual lives. A moderately negative but statistically significant correlation was determined between the mean scores of the ASEX and RHPAS (r=-0.469). The difference between women’s age, education level, their partners’ education level, their occupation, their partners’ occupation, the genital area cleaning method, their underwear change frequency, how they take a bath during their menstrual period, getting information about genital hygiene, their experiences with stillbirth, menopausal status, and sexual intercourse frequency and mean scores for RHPAS and ASEX were determined to be statistically significant (p<0.05). The difference between having children and the mean score of the ASEX was also found to be statistically significant (p<0.05). As women’s protective attitudes and behaviors towards their reproductive health improved, it is found that their sexual lives were affected positively.

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