The sexual concerns of african american, asian american, and white women seeking routine gynecological care.
OBJECTIVE
Because of limited knowledge regarding the sexual health of minority women, we described the types and frequency of sexual concerns among African American, Asian American, and white women.


METHODS
The sexual concerns of eligible women who received their health care at a large military health care facility in Washington State were determined from December 1992 through January 1993 through the use of a questionnaire on women's sexual health that was developed by one of the authors.


RESULTS
A high and similar prevalence of sexual concerns was reported among these women. The prevalence of certain sexual concerns among white, African American, and Asian American women differed significantly. A history of sexual coercion or physical/emotional abuse was strongly associated with a high prevalence of sexual concerns for each racial and ethnic group.


CONCLUSIONS
Although women of different racial/ethnic backgrounds reported a high and similar prevalence of sexual concerns, there were significant differences in the prevalence of certain sexual concerns that may have differential health importance. Health-care providers should exercise caution when generalizing the sexual concerns of women from different racial/ethnic backgrounds.
Nusbaum
Maj Margaret R
MM
Madigan Army Medical Center, Tacoma, WA, USA.
Braxton
Loretta
L
Strayhorn
Gregory
G
D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000208:ethnology; D001213:Asian / Q000208:ethnology; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology*; D012735:Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology; D020018:Sexual Dysfunctions, Psychological / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D044465:White People / Q000208:ethnology