Factors Influencing the Resumption of Postpartum Female Sexuality in Women Who Have Given Birth Once or Several Times at the Ignace Deen Maternity Hospital of the Conakry University Hospital Centre (Guinea)
Introduction:Sexuality in the postpartum period is a taboo
subject that raises many questions, especially among women. The aim of this
study was to evaluate the influence of factors such as mode of delivery,
parity, type of household and level of education on the resumption of sexuality,
by comparing our results with those in the literature. Methods: This is
a prospective descriptive and analytical study, which took place from 3 April
to 2 June 2023 in the maternity ward of the Ignace Deen National Hospital of
the University Hospital Centre of Conakry. The sample included married women
who had given birth once or several times. Results: Of 118 married women
who had given birth once or several times and who were questioned about their
sexuality in the postpartum period, 75.42% (89 cases) stated that they had
resumed sexual activity in the postpartum period. (The majority were aged 20 - 29
years (46.61%), pauci pares (51.69%), living in a monogamous household
(88.14%), with secondary education (44.92%) and self-employed (38.98%). More
than half (58.47%) of these women had a normal vaginal delivery with
vulvo-perineal tear (5.80%), episiotomy (15.94%) and instrumental extraction
(8.69%). The main reasons for resuming sexual activity were the desire to
satisfy their partner (50.56%) and to maintain the harmony of the couple
(29.21%). Resumption of sexual activity was more common in patients who had
given birth by caesarean section (p = 0.007) and in patients with a higher
level of education (p = 0.03). However, it was not influenced by parity or
household type. Conclusion: Sexuality remains a taboo subject, and its
resurgence in the postpartum period is influenced by the mode of delivery and
the level of education and perception of women. Certain practices and
complications related to childbirth can also influence the resumption of
sexuality in the postpartum period.
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