Development of a sexual needs rehabilitation framework in women post spinal cord injury: a study from Iran

Publication date: Available online 18 September 2017
Source:Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Author(s): Raziyeh Maasoumi, Fatemeh Zarei, Effat Merghati-Khoei, Taylor Lawson, Seyyed Hasan Emami-Razavi
ObjectiveTo develop a sexual needs rehabilitation framework in women post spinal cord injury (SCI)DesignMixed-methods studySettingBrain and Spinal Cord Injury Research Center (BASIR), Neuroscience Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IranParticipantsMarried women with at least one year passed injuryInterventionNot applicableMethodsThis study was designed in three steps; primary needs assessment with quantitative and qualitative methods, prioritizing identified needs by expert panels, and developing framework.ResultsQuantitative phase in the first phase showed that the total mean score of SQOL-F was 60.47±1.53 and the total mean score of FSFI was 50.54±11.35. Moreover, women's sexual understanding post-SCI in the qualitative assessment revealed that "dilemma leading to limited sexual activity", "seeking positive sexual adjustment", and "lack of client-based sexual and reproductive education/counseling in the rehabilitation process" as three main themes. Results from prioritizing identified needs in the second step indicated that the most important needs related to sexuality aspects of life. In the final step, the framework for Iranian woman with post-SCI sexual rehabilitative needs developed which focused on sexual behavior complication post-SCI as a main need.ConclusionIt is important to assess probable unmet needs before any designing, planning, and implementing interventional rehabilitative health care program especially in sexuality issues. Developed framework can be applied by rehabilitation team during initial caregiving and ongoing through time as needed.



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