Determining women's sexual knowledge and beliefs at postpartum period

This descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted in order to determine the knowledge and beliefs about sexuality and affecting factors in postpartum women. The study sample consisted of 400 women who gave birth in Antalya. In the analysis of the study, descriptive statistical indicators like frequency and percentage distributions and Chi-Square analysis were used. The average age of the women participated in the study were 27.66±5.68. 63.8% of women were primary/secondary school graduates, 79.5% were working and 65.8% of women were multiparas. The proportion of women receiving information about sexuality (41.8%) were found to be lower than the proportion of women receiving information about sexuality at postpartum period (50.8%). The source of information was the health staff generally. 67% of women have right information about the reason for the restriction of sexual intercourse at postpartum period and the need of sexuality for women and 30.8% think that should be resumed sexual intercourse before 40 days. But it was determined that the sexual belief about dirtyness of postpartum women and necessity of waiting 40 days to resume sexual intercourse of the women were 88%. Despite the knowledge and beliefs about postpartum sexual intercourse, 96.7% of postpartum women participating in the study was planning to wait for sexual intercourse resumption for 40 days and over. 65% of women agree on the importance of breast in sexual life, but 54-64% have incorrect information about the relationship between breastfeeding and sexuality. While 92.8% of women are aware of postpartum family planning needs, 32.5% of women consider that effective family planning methods would not increase the frequency of sexual intercourse. Postpartum sexual knowledge is determined to be associated with education of women, age, longest lived settlements, duration of marriage, type of family and parity (p<0.05). 61.8% of women admitted importance and 71% admitted need of sexuality for women. 86% of women think that sexual desire should be reflected to partner. And it was determined to be between 6.5-16% that having myth about breastfeeding. 66.8% of women have myths about oral intercourse and 74.8% about anal intercourse. 35% of women think masturbation is a sin. Postpartum sexual beliefs is determined to be associated with education of women, longest lived settlements, marriage form, duration of marriage and parity (p<0.05). As the result of the study, it was determined that women have a lot of myths about postpartum sexuality and women's knowledge is insufficient. It is recommended to evaluating the knowledge and beliefs of women about sexuality at postpartum period and giving nursing care and sexual counseling in accordance with the requirements.