Palestinian Gynecologists’ knowledge, attitude and practice with respect to Female Sexual Dysfunction in West Bank

 

¹Souad Belkebir, Ghaidaa Zubaidi, ¹ Noor Halawa and ¹ Lubna Alsaudi

¹ Faculty of Medicine and health Sciences, An-Najah National University

[email protected]

 

Background

Female sexual dysfunction (FSD) is an important determinant of women’s health and quality of life. FSD remains under-recognized in clinical practice because most health professionals are unlikely to discuss sexual issues with their patients. The study aims to evaluate knowledge, attitude and practice patterns of Palestinian Gynecologists (Gyns) in the West Bank with respect to FSD.

Methods

A cross sectional study was carried out among 169 Palestinian Gyns working in public and private sectors, using a self-administered survey in the West Bank between September 2014 and February 2015. Data regarding socio-demographic variables, knowledge, attitude and practice of Gyns with respect to FSD were gathered and analyzed. Significance was considered at p value < 0.05.

Results

133 surveys were returned (RR =78.69%). 59.4% were male and 73 % over 40 years. 79.7% had been in practice for over 10 years. 55.6% received their specialty training in an Arabian country. 45.1% belong to the private sector, 15.8% to governmental hospital and 9.8% to academic or university one. 46% consider screening for FSD being very important while 48.1% somewhat important. Despite of that, only 1.4 % screen for FSD always, while 36.3% do most of the time and 47.4 % never or rarely. FSD screening opportunities following urogynacologic surgery were higher. Fear to offend the patient was the most reported barrier for screening. 19% stated their training with respect to FSD was unsatisfactory and 27.8% satisfactory. Among respondents who screen for FSD most of the time or always after surgery, 90% asked one or two questions about sexual activity, 84.9% about dyspareunia, 12.1% about libido , 31.2% about arousal/ lubrication and 29.2% about orgasm. None used a validated questionnaire. Country of ObGyn specialist training, type of practice and practice area were not significantly related to FSD screening frecuency. Gender (χ2= 11.474, p= 0.001), age (χ2= 6.121, p= 0.013), practice length as a consultant (χ2= 5.061, p= 0.024) and type of patient (χ2= 11.752, p= 0.001) did.

Conclusion

Screening patterns were better among female Gyns, older, more experienced ones and those who see mainly urogynecolgic patients. Palestinian Gyns have important deficits in both knowledge and practice related to FSD despite their positive attitude toward it.

Conference Title

“The Sixth Biomedical Research Symposium”.

Conference Country

Palestine

Conference Date

April 9, 2016 - April 9, 2016

Conference Sponsor

The Palestinian Forum for Medical Research (PFMR) in conjunction with the Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science, and Bethlehem University