Journal of Multidisciplinary Healthcare (May 2024)

Self-Perception of Sexual Dysfunction of Adult Brazilian Women of Reproductive Age: A Cross-Sectional Study

  • Figueiredo PAO,
  • Costa TSLDM,
  • Lima MDDA,
  • Magalhães AG,
  • Bezerra IFD,
  • Driusso P,
  • de Sousa VPS

Journal volume & issue
Vol. Volume 17
pp. 2165 – 2173

Abstract

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Polianne Angella Oliveira Figueiredo,1 Tâmara Stéphanie Lucena de Medeiros Costa,2 Mateus Dantas de Azevedo Lima,2 Adriana Gomes Magalhães,2 Ingrid Fonsêca Damasceno Bezerra,3 Patricia Driusso,4 Vanessa Patrícia Soares de Sousa2 1Faculty of Health Sciences of Trairi, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Santa Cruz, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil; 2Multicampus School of Medical Sciences, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Caicó, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil; 3Brazilian Hospital Services Company (Ebserh), Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil; 4Federal University of São Carlos, São Carlos, São Paulo, BrazilCorrespondence: Vanessa Patrícia Soares de Sousa, Tel +55 84 98702-7110, Email [email protected]: Sexual dysfunction (SD) comprises disorders in sexual desire, arousal, orgasm, and lubrication. The importance of self-perceived SD relies on its relation to personal values, sex education, and partnership. We aimed to analyze the association between self-perceived SD and the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) in adult women of reproductive age and the correlation between age and sexual function.Material and Methods: This analytical cross-sectional study included 285 women aged 18 to 49 years, sexually active for at least four weeks, cisgender and heterosexual, and with Internet access. Women were divided into control (CG, control group; without SD) or study group (SG, study group; with SD) and responded to a self-applicable online survey containing a sociodemographic characterization, an interview about SD knowledge, and the FSFI test. The Chi-square test of independence (χ2) analyzed the association between self-perceived SD and FSFI-assessed SD. Pearson’s correlation coefficient investigated the correlation between age and FSFI.Results: Included women had a mean age of 29.57 years ± 7.11 years. Self-perceived SD showed a moderate association (Cramer’s V = 0.590) with the FSFI score (χ2 [2] = 91.500; p < 0.001). A weak, negative, and significant correlation was observed between age and the FSFI desire domain (r = − 0.120; p = 0.030; r2 = 1.440).Conclusion: Women with self-perceived SD were 68% more likely to present FSFI-assessed SD. Regarding the FSFI desire domain, sexual function decreased with age.Keywords: sexual dysfunction, physiological, sexuality, women

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