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Evaluation of sexual reproductive health needs of women with spinal cord injury in Tehran, Iran

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Abstract

Physical disability is one of the factors influencing the sexual and reproductive health (SRH) of people. Women with a severe disability receive fewer Pap smear tests, regular mammography examinations, and sex education. This study was carried out to identify the SRH needs of women with spinal cord injuries (SCI) in Tehran (Iran) in 2019. This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted using the SRHNA-SCI validation tool. The study included married Iranian women between the ages of 18 and 55 years, who had SCI. and were registered with the Welfare Organization of Tehran. A total of 78 questionnaires were collected for statistical analysis. The mean age of the participants was 41.73 ± 8.42 years and they were mainly high school graduates with diplomas (35.9%), housewives (85.9%), and patients with thoracic injuries (61.5%). The SRH needs of women with SCI were the need for improving the quality of services (98.87 ± 2.34%), social needs (98.66 ± 3.03%), the need for services of the Welfare Organization (98.04 ± 6.28%), personal needs (98.03 ± 4.59%), sexual needs (96.58 ± 7.66%), and educational needs (96.83 ± 5.32%), respectively. The provision of low-quality SRH services is seemingly the most important preventive factor, while the absence of family and community support is the factor influencing the promotion of the SRH of women with SCI. Therefore, the attainment of this goal is contingent on the cooperation and interaction of different organizations such as the Ministry of Health, the municipality, the insurance organization, the Welfare Organization, and non-governmental organizations.

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Notes

  1. - Sexual Reproductive Health Need Assessment for Spinal Cord injury.

  2. Maternal Mortality Rate.

  3. Infant Mortality Rate.

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Acknowledgements

The paper is taken from PhD Thesis of reproductive health submitted at International Branch of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Science, Tehran-Iran. Hereby, I would like to appreciate all participants, International Branch of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Vice chancellor for research in Shahid Beheshti School of Nursing and Midwifery, Tehran Organization of Welfare and Protection Center of Spinal Cord Disables of Iran.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Midwifery, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

    Marjan Akhavan Amjadi

  2. Midwifery and Reproductive Health Research Center, Department of Midwifery and Reproductive Health, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Masoumeh Simbar

  3. Social Determinants of Health Research Center and Department of Occupational Therapy, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Seyyed Ali Hoseini

  4. Proteomics Research Center and Department of Biostatistics, School of Allied Medical Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Farid Zayeri

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  1. Marjan Akhavan Amjadi
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Author (1) declares that she has no conflict interest. Author (2) has received research grants from Vice chancellor for research in Shahid Beheshti School of Nursing and Midwifery. Author (3) declares that there is no conflict of interest. Author (4) declares that he has no conflict of interest.

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Akhavan Amjadi, M., Simbar, M., Hoseini, S.A. et al. Evaluation of sexual reproductive health needs of women with spinal cord injury in Tehran, Iran. Sex Disabil 40, 91–104 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11195-021-09717-9

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