Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Talking about sexuality with your own child. The perspective of the parents of children born with arm

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Pediatric Surgery International Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

Evaluate whether parents have ever discussed sexuality with their children with anorectal malformations (ARM), which sexuality issues they think should be addressed and who, in their opinion, should address these issues.

Methods

Parents from the Italian Parents’ and Patients’ Association for Anorectal Malformation participated in meetings organized by the Association together with local Pediatric Surgical Units and were asked to fill in a questionnaire.

Results

103 parents participated. Overall, 66% of parents had never talked about sex with their children. Children’s age was marginally correlated with occasions to talk about sexuality (r = .202, p = 0.53) indicating that the older were the children, the more the parents talked about sexuality. The majority of parents reported that their children should have the possibility to talk about sex with them (72%), psychologists (57%), gynecologists/andrologists (47%), pediatric surgeons (33.5%), surgeons specialized in ARM (39.8%), friends (28%), nurses (24.7%) and teachers (20.4%), respectively. The most important topic they thought their children should address was handling serene sexuality, although the most common topic effectively discussed with them was the conception.

Conclusion

Psychologists, gynecologists/andrologists, and pediatric surgeons are seen as key resources for talking about sexuality. A great number of parents express the wish that their children had more opportunities to discuss sexual topics with pediatric surgeons.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Murphy F, Puri P, Hutson JM, Holschneider AM (2006) Incidence and frequency of different types, and classification of anorectal malformations. In: Eds. Alexander M. Holschneider · John M. Hutson. Anorectal Malformations in Children Embryology, Diagnosis, Surgical Treatment, Follow-up: 163–184. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg

    Google Scholar 

  2. Cassina M, Fascetti Leon F, Ruol M, Chiarenza SF, Scirè G, Midrio P, Clementi M, Gamba P (2019) Prevalence and survival of patients with anorectal malformations: a population-based study. J Pediatr Surg 54(10):1998–2003

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Bai Y, Yuan Z, Wang W, Zhao Y, Wang H, Wang W (2000) Quality of life for children with fecal incontinence after surgically corrected anorectal malformation. J Pediatr Surg 35(3):462–464

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Grano C, Aminoff D, Lucidi F, Violani C (2011) Long-term disease-specific quality of life in adult anorectal malformation patients. J Pediatr Surg 46(4):691–698

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Springford R, Connor MJ, Jones K, Kapetanakis VV, Giuliani S (2016) Prevalence of active long-term problems in patients with anorectal malformations: a systematic review. Dis Colon Rectum 59(6):570–580

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Diseth TH, Emblem R (1996) Somatic function, mental health, and psychosocial adjustment of adolescents with anorectal anomalies. J Pediatr Surg 31:638–643

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Nah SA, Ong CCP, Lakshmi NK, Yap T, Jacobsen AS, Low Y (2012) Anomalies associated with anorectal malformations according to the krickenbeck anatomic classification. J Pediatr Surg 47(12):2273–3227

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Van Den Hondel D, Sloots CEJ, Bolt JM, Wijnen RMH, de Blaauw I, Ijsselstijn H (2015) Psychosexual well-being after childhood surgery for anorectal malformation or hirschsprung’s disease. J Sex Med 12(7):1616–1625

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Grano C, Aminoff D, Lucidi F et al (2008) Self-efficacy, postoperative care satisfaction, body image and sexual functioning in ARM patients. PediatrSurg 24(11):1201–1205

    Google Scholar 

  10. Schmidt D, Winter S, Jenetzky E, Zwink N, Schmiedeke E, Maerzheuser S (2012) Sexual function in adults with anorectal malformation: psychosocial adaptation. German network for congenital uro-rectal malformations (cure-net). Pediatr Surg Int 28:789–792

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Tofft L, Hoel A, Håkansson C, Zawadzki A, Gjone H, Øresland T, Bjørnland K, Stenström P (2020) Key components of successful transition for adolescents born with anorectal malformations–a nordic focus group study. Int J Adolesc Med Health 4:20200052

    Google Scholar 

  12. Flynn EK, Lin L, Bruner DW, Cyranowski JM, Hahn EA, Jeffery DD, Barsky Reese J, Reeve BB, Shleby RA, Weinfurt KP (2016) Sexual satisfaction and the importance of sexual health to quality of life throughout the life course of us adults. J Sex Med 13(11):1642–1650

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  13. Grano C, Bucci S, Aminoff D, Lucidi F, Violani C (2014) Feelings of depression in people with ARM: the role of critical incidents and perceived difficulties in close and sexual relationships. Pediatr Surg Int 30(8):823–828

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Witvliet MJ, van Gasteren S, van den Hondel D, Hartman E, van Heurn L, van der Steeg A (2018) Predicting sexual problems in young adults with an anorectal malformation or hirschsprung disease. J Pediatr Surg 53(8):1555–1559

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Amerstorfer EE, Grano C, Verhaak C, Garcìa-Vasquez A, Miserez M, Radleff-Schlimme A, Schwarzer N, Haanen M, de Blaauw I, Jenetzky E, van der Steeg A, van Rooji IALM, ARM-Net consortium. (2019) What do pediatric surgeons think about sexual issues in dealing with patients with anorectal malformations? The ARM-Net consortium members’ opinion. Pediatr Surg Int 35:935–943

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  16. Giuliani S, Grano C, Aminoff D, Schwarzer N, Van De Vorle M, Cretolle C, Haanen M, Brisighelli G, Marzheuser S, Connor M (2017) Transition of care in patients with anorectal malformations: consensus by the ARM-net consortium. J Pediatr Surg 52(11):1866–1872

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Stenström P, Kockum CC, Benér DK, Ivarsson C, Arnbjörnsson E (2014) Adolescents with anorectal malformation: physical outcome, sexual health and quality of life. Int J Adolesc Med Health 26(1):49–59

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Eleuteri S, Aminoff D, Lucidi F, Violani C, Grano C (2019) Sexual well-being in adolescent and young adults born with arm: the perspective of the patients. Pediatr Surg Int 35:945–951

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Albert B (2010) With One Voice 2010: America’s adults and teens sound Off About teen pregnancy. The National campaign to prevent teen and unplanned pregnancy, Washington, DC

    Google Scholar 

  20. Italian Ministry of Health (2018) Principali risultati del Progetto ͞Studio Nazionale Fertilità. http://www.salute.gov.it/imgs/C_17_pubblicazioni_2823_allegato.pdf. Accessed 10 May 2019

  21. Davis SL, Koblinsky SA, Sugawara AI (1986) Evaluation of a sex education program for parents of young children. J Sex Edu Ther 12(1):32–36

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Malacane M, Beckmeyer JJ (2016) A review of parent-based barriers to parent–adolescent communication about sex and sexuality: Implications for sex and family educators. Am J Sex Edu 11(1):27–40

    Google Scholar 

  23. Pownall JD, Jahoda A, Hastings R, Kerr L (2011) Sexual understanding and development of young people with intellectual disabilities: mothers’ perspectives of within-family context. Am J Intellect Dev Disabil 116(3):205–219

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Shontz FC (1975) The psychological aspects of physical illness and disability. Macmillan Publishing Co., New York

    Google Scholar 

  25. Pratt HD, Greydanus DE (2007) Intellectual disability in children and adolescents. Prim Care 34:375–386

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Shah P, C., Norlin, V., Logsdon and L., Samson-Fang. (2005) Gynecological care for adolescents with disability: physician comfort, perceived barriers, and potential solutions. J Pediatr Adolesc Gynecol 18:101–104

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Neufeld JA, Klingbeil F, Bryen DB, Silverman B, Thomas A (2002) Adolescent sexuality and disability. Phys Med Rehabil Clin N Am 13:857–873

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. McInnes RA (2003) Chronic illness and sexuality. Med J Aust 179(5):263–266

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Pieters R, Kedde H, Bender J (2018) Training rehabilitation teams in sexual health care: a description and evaluation of a multidisciplinary intervention. Disabil Rehabil 40(6):732–739

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Wilson EK, Koo HP (2010) Mothers, fathers, sons, and daughters: gender differences in factors associated with parent-child communication about sexual topics. Reprod Health 7:31

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  31. Beckett MK, Elliott MN, Martino S, Kanouse DE, Corona R, Klein DJ, Schuster MA (2010) Timing of parent and child communication about sexuality relative to children’s sexual behaviors. Pediatrics 125(1):34–42

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Italian Patients’ and Parents’ Association for Anorectal Malformations, Rome, Italy

    S. Eleuteri, D. Aminoff & C. Grano

  2. Pediatric Surgery Unit, Cà Foncello Hospital, Treviso, Italy

    P. Midrio

  3. Department of Pediatric Surgery, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy

    E. Leva & A. Morandi

  4. Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, Università Degli Studi Di Milano, Milan, Italy

    E. Leva

  5. Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy

    M. Spinoni & C. Grano

Authors
  1. S. Eleuteri
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. D. Aminoff
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. P. Midrio
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. E. Leva
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. A. Morandi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. M. Spinoni
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. C. Grano
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

S.E., C.G. and D.A. conceived the idea of the manuscript and prepared the questionnaire. P.M, E.L, and A.M suggested integrations to the first version of the questionnaire. S.E. wrote a first draft of the manuscript. C.G. and D.A. worked on the subsequent versions of the manuscript. C.G and M.S. runned the analyses and wrote the result section and discussion. All authors reviewed and edited the final version of the manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to S. Eleuteri.

Ethics declarations

Competing interests

The authors declare no competing interests.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Springer Nature or its licensor holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Eleuteri, S., Aminoff, D., Midrio, P. et al. Talking about sexuality with your own child. The perspective of the parents of children born with arm. Pediatr Surg Int 38, 1665–1670 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00383-022-05217-9

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00383-022-05217-9

Keywords

Search

Navigation