Correlation between general health and sexual function in older women in an Iranian setting

INTRODUCTION: The world's population is aging and this trend continues. Older adults are living healthier and longer than in the last decades and their sexual function should also be considered along with their general health. This study aimed to examine the correlation between general health a...

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Main Authors: Nazila NeJhaddadgar, Arash Ziapour, Jaffar Abbas, Afrouz Mardi, Maryam Zare
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2020-01-01
Series:Journal of Education and Health Promotion
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.jehp.net/article.asp?issn=2277-9531;year=2020;volume=9;issue=1;spage=300;epage=300;aulast=
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author Nazila NeJhaddadgar
Arash Ziapour
Jaffar Abbas
Afrouz Mardi
Maryam Zare
author_facet Nazila NeJhaddadgar
Arash Ziapour
Jaffar Abbas
Afrouz Mardi
Maryam Zare
author_sort Nazila NeJhaddadgar
collection DOAJ
description INTRODUCTION: The world's population is aging and this trend continues. Older adults are living healthier and longer than in the last decades and their sexual function should also be considered along with their general health. This study aimed to examine the correlation between general health and sexual function in elderly women. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this cross-sectional correlation study, 1245 women over 60 years old were selected in Ardabil health-care centers by a convenient sampling method. Demographic data of all participants were noted and general health and sexual function were evaluated by the Goldberg General Health Questionnaire and Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) Questionnaire. RESULTS: The participants' mean ± standard deviation age was 75.1 ± 7.2 years, most of the women (40.08%) were illiterate, and the majority of them were living with their married (44.81%) or single children (27.14%). The general health score for 380 older women (30.52%) was under 22 (healthy). About 60% of the women had engaged in sexual activity during the past 4 weeks, and the total mean score of FSFI was 17.36 ± 1.44. In addition, 84.33% of the women had sexual dysfunction (FSFI < 26.55). The age (P < 0.05), educational level (P < 0.001), living with children (P < 0.01), and general health status (P < 0.01) were found to be significantly related to sexual function. The total scores for FSFI and the scores for all domains except for satisfaction were in positive correlation with the score for the total and all domains of general health (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Sexual function in elderly women is affected by several factors, such as general health. Therefore, to promote successful aging in women, sexual function and general health require more attention when implementing women's health initiatives.
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spelling doaj.art-46cc106d0f8147688f430445fd9226b12022-12-21T22:57:46ZengWolters Kluwer Medknow PublicationsJournal of Education and Health Promotion2277-95312020-01-019130030010.4103/jehp.jehp_316_20Correlation between general health and sexual function in older women in an Iranian settingNazila NeJhaddadgarArash ZiapourJaffar AbbasAfrouz MardiMaryam ZareINTRODUCTION: The world's population is aging and this trend continues. Older adults are living healthier and longer than in the last decades and their sexual function should also be considered along with their general health. This study aimed to examine the correlation between general health and sexual function in elderly women. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this cross-sectional correlation study, 1245 women over 60 years old were selected in Ardabil health-care centers by a convenient sampling method. Demographic data of all participants were noted and general health and sexual function were evaluated by the Goldberg General Health Questionnaire and Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) Questionnaire. RESULTS: The participants' mean ± standard deviation age was 75.1 ± 7.2 years, most of the women (40.08%) were illiterate, and the majority of them were living with their married (44.81%) or single children (27.14%). The general health score for 380 older women (30.52%) was under 22 (healthy). About 60% of the women had engaged in sexual activity during the past 4 weeks, and the total mean score of FSFI was 17.36 ± 1.44. In addition, 84.33% of the women had sexual dysfunction (FSFI < 26.55). The age (P < 0.05), educational level (P < 0.001), living with children (P < 0.01), and general health status (P < 0.01) were found to be significantly related to sexual function. The total scores for FSFI and the scores for all domains except for satisfaction were in positive correlation with the score for the total and all domains of general health (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Sexual function in elderly women is affected by several factors, such as general health. Therefore, to promote successful aging in women, sexual function and general health require more attention when implementing women's health initiatives.http://www.jehp.net/article.asp?issn=2277-9531;year=2020;volume=9;issue=1;spage=300;epage=300;aulast=general healtholder womensexual function
spellingShingle Nazila NeJhaddadgar
Arash Ziapour
Jaffar Abbas
Afrouz Mardi
Maryam Zare
Correlation between general health and sexual function in older women in an Iranian setting
Journal of Education and Health Promotion
general health
older women
sexual function
title Correlation between general health and sexual function in older women in an Iranian setting
title_full Correlation between general health and sexual function in older women in an Iranian setting
title_fullStr Correlation between general health and sexual function in older women in an Iranian setting
title_full_unstemmed Correlation between general health and sexual function in older women in an Iranian setting
title_short Correlation between general health and sexual function in older women in an Iranian setting
title_sort correlation between general health and sexual function in older women in an iranian setting
topic general health
older women
sexual function
url http://www.jehp.net/article.asp?issn=2277-9531;year=2020;volume=9;issue=1;spage=300;epage=300;aulast=
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AT afrouzmardi correlationbetweengeneralhealthandsexualfunctioninolderwomeninaniraniansetting
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