Early Resumption of Sexual Intercourse and Its Associated Factors Among Postpartum Women in Western Ethiopia: A Cross-Sectional Study

International Journal of Women's Health Dovepress open access to scientific and medical research International Journal of Women's Health downloaded from https://www.dovepress.com/ by 41.87.9.116 on 31-May-2020 For personal use only. Open Access Full Text Article ORIGINAL RESEARCH Early Resumption of Sexual Intercourse and Its Associated Factors Among Postpartum Women in Western Ethiopia: A Cross-Sectional Study This article was published in the following Dove Press journal: International Journal of Women's Health Ebisa Turi Jambola 1 Abebaw Addis Gelagay 2 Aysheshim Kassahun Belew 3 Amanuel Alemu Abajobir 4 1 Department of Public Health, Institute of Health Sciences, Wollega University, Nekemte, Ethiopia; 2Department of Reproductive Health, Institute of Public Health, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia; 3Department of Human Nutrition, Institute of Public Health, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia; 4 Maternal and Child Wellbeing Unit, African Population and Health Research Centre, Nairobi, Kenya Background: Women are often forced to recommence sexual intercourse after childbirth to maintain intimacy and fulfill their partners’ desires. Early resumption of postpartum sexual intercourse leads to sexual health problems and unwanted pregnancy if not complemented with appropriate contraceptive use. However, sexual practice during the early postpartum period has received little attention in clinical and research settings. The aim of this study was therefore to assess the early resumption of sexual intercourse and its associated factors among postpartum women attending public health institutions in Nekemte town, Western Ethiopia. Methods: An institution-based cross-sectional study was carried out from March to April 2019. A systematic random sampling technique was used to select 528 postpartum women. An interviewer-administered, pretested, and structured questionnaire was used to collect data. Data were coded and entered into Epi Info 7.2.1, and exported to SPSS version 20.0 to run bivariable and multivariable logistic regressions. Results: One in five postpartum women (20.2%, 95% CI: 17.1–23.6) practiced an early resumption of sexual intercourse, of whom three-fifths (58%) did not use any contraceptives. Women’s secondary education (AOR=0.22, 95% CI: 0.07–0.71), husband’s elementary (AOR=0.23, 95% CI: 0.06–0.87) and secondary education (AOR=0.25, 95% CI: 0.07–0.88), as well as women’s fertility status (parity of one) (AOR=3.52, 95% CI: 1.24–10.01), normal vaginal delivery (AOR=5.44, 95% CI: 1.84–16.12), giving birth to a male child (AOR=1.94, 95% CI: 1.05–3.60), desire for another child (AOR=5.71, 95% CI: 1.89–17.25), and pressure from the husband to initiate intercourse (AOR=9.89, 95% CI: 4.99–19.58) were significantly associated with early resumption of sexual intercourse. Conclusion: A significant proportion of postpartum women who resume early sexual intercourse do not use any contraceptives. Interventions that focus on strengthening the integration of postpartum sexual health education and service use are warranted. Keywords: early resumption of sexual intercourse, postpartum women, Ethiopia Plain Language Summary Correspondence: Ebisa Turi Jambola Department of Public Health, Institute of Health Sciences, Wollega University, Nekemte, Ethiopia Tel +251917686021 Fax +251576617980 Email submit your manuscript | www.dovepress.com DovePress http://doi.org/10.2147/IJWH.S231859 Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org) Pregnancy, delivery, and motherhood have a great effect on women’s postpartum sexual well-being. Women in many parts of the world recommence sexual intercourse early during the postpartum period (i.e. before 6 weeks) to maintain intimacy and for other reasons, such as fulfilling their partners’ desire or wishing to reduce possible conflicts in their relationship that may arise from a disparity in sexual desire, although they may lack sexual desire. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that all women should be asked about the International Journal of Women's Health 2020:12 381–391 381 © 2020 Jambola et al. This work is published and licensed by Dove Medical Press Limited. The full terms of this license are available at https://www.dovepress.com/terms. php and incorporate the Creative Commons Attribution – Non Commercial (unported, v3.0) License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/). By accessing the work you hereby accept the Terms. Non-commercial uses of the work are permitted without any further permission from Dove Medical Press Limited, provided the work is properly attributed. For permission for commercial use of this work, please see paragraphs 4.2 and 5 of our Terms (https://www.dovepress.com/terms.php). Dovepress International Journal of Women's Health downloaded from https://www.dovepress.com/ by 41.87.9.116 on 31-May-2020 For personal use only. Jambola et al resumption of sexual intercourse and possible dyspareunia as part of an assessment of their overall well-being following childbirth. However, a sizeable number of postpartum women do not receive information or advice about their sexual health during pregnancy, including when to commence sexual activity after childbirth. Moreover, postpartum sexual health has received little attention from either clinicians’ or researchers’ perspectives. Therefore, the objective of this study was to assess the prevalence of and factors associated with early resumption of sexual intercourse among postpartum women attending public health facilities in Nekemte town, Western Ethiopia. Of the total 509 participants, 103 (20%) resumed sexual intercourse early. Both maternal and paternal educational status, as well as the mother’s fertility status, normal vaginal delivery, giving birth to a male child, a desire for another child, and being pressured by the husband, were significantly associated with early resumption of sexual intercourse. In conclusion, a significant proportion of postpartum women who resume early sexual intercourse do not use any contraceptives. Therefore, interventions that focus on strengthening the integration of postpartum sexual health education and service use are warranted. Background Although it is a period of joy and great expectation for parents and their families as they look forward to getting to know and love a new healthy baby, the period following childbirth is accompanied by a critical phase in the lives of both the mothers and their newborn babies. Indeed, pregnancy and childbirth bring many changes to the postpartum sexual health and well-being of mothers.1 Postpartum sexual activity is a common concern that is often not discussed during prenatal or postpartum care and has received little attention from either clinicians or researchers. Consequently, health promotion and education on postpartum sexual health is limited in current maternity care,2,3 especially in developing countries,4 although postpartum sexual health is inseparable from sexuality and sexual (...truncated)