Original scientific paper

https://doi.org/10.20471/acc.2024.63.02.8

Effect of family size and place of residence on sexual activity resumption in women after childbirth

Zorica Knezović Drakšić orcid.org/0000-0002-3563-8536 ; Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Sestre milosrdnice University Hospital Center, Zagreb, Croatia *
Hrvojka Soljačić-Vraneš ; Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Sestre milosrdnice University Hospital Center, Zagreb, Croatia
Ivka Djaković ; Department of Gynecology, Bethesda Hospital, Basel, Switzerland
Hrvoje Vraneš ; University of Zagreb, School of Medicine, Zagreb, Croatia

* Corresponding author.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to assess the effect of social factors such as living in rural
versus urban area or in an extended versus nuclear family regarding female sexuality in the postpartum
period. In this cross-sectional study 113 women took part. They fi lled-out a questionnaire that
contained sociodemographic questions about their marital status, place of residence, number of family
members, and questions about sexual intercourses after giving birth. They were also asked about the
frequency, time elapsed until resuming sexual intercourse, and presence of dyspareunia. Time period
from giving birth until resuming sexual intercourse was 8 weeks on average. Place of residence (median
test: χ2(2)=3.3, p>0.05) and number of household members (median test: χ2(4)=0.87, p>0.05 for
number of household members) had no effect on that time period. There was no significant difference
in the frequency of sexual intercourse between women living in urban and rural area (χ2-test(1)=0.03,
p>0.05). Women in larger families were more sexually active in comparison to women in smaller
families (χ2-test(2)=9.08, p<0.05). Dyspareunia was reported by 41.3% of study women. Sexuality
of women in the postpartum period is liable to social effects. Social support of family members has
a greater impact on sexuality in the postpartum period than other social factors such as place of
residence. Besides support of close family members, women in that period should have organized
social protection and access to information.

Keywords

Support, social; Period, postpartum; Intercourse, sexual

Hrčak ID:

327951

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/327951

Publication date:

31.10.2025.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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