Comparing the effect of face-to-face education and using educational films on couples' sexual dysfunction during pregnancy

Background: Pregnancy is a special period in a woman's life during which physical, mental, social, and cultural changes would affect sexual desires during this period. The present study was conducted to compare the effect of face-to-face education and using educational films on the sexual dysfunction in couples.

Materials and methods: The present study was a semi-experimental research. Study population contained pregnant women and their husbands. Samples were selected randomly. Data were gathered using demographic characteristic questionnaire and sexual dysfunction in men and women questionnaire. Sample size was 96 couples (32 couples in the face-to-face group, 32 in the educational films group, and 32 in the control group). Data were analyzed using SPSS20 software.

Results: The mean total score of preintervention sexual function in face-to-face education group was 46.72 ± 9.79, in educational film group 47.82 ± 13.07, and in control group 43.84 ± 12.76. In the case of postintervention, it was, respectively, 60.62 ± 9.72, 57.37 ± 14.74, and 43.61 ± 14.21. Face-to-face education led to the treatment of sexual dysfunction during pregnancy (P < 0.001). In the educational film group (P = 0.40), sexual dysfunction during pregnancy was not treated, but there was an improvement in sexual function (P = 0.001). In the control group, there was a significant difference regarding the decrease in the score of sexual function and untreated sexual dysfunction during pregnancy (P = 0.001). Furthermore, no improvement was observed in the sexual dysfunction during pregnancy (P = 0.90).

Conclusions: According to the results, face-to-face and film education are effective in sexual function during pregnancy, but face-to-face education in pregnancy is more effective in the treatment of sexual dysfunction, and so this causes promoting sexual health during this period.