Brazilian residents' attitude and practice toward sexual health issues in pregnant patients.
BACKGROUND
Sexual difficulties and questions regarding sexual function are frequent in pregnancy, yet they are infrequently discussed in academic communities, medical schools, and residency programs. Embarrassment, lack of experience, inadequate communication skills and insufficient knowledge on how to deal with sexual complaints, and questions in pregnancy are common, especially among young health professionals.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to assess and compare the attitude and behavior of Brazilian residents in three different medical programs (obstetrics-gynecology, internal medicine, and psychiatry) toward sexual health issues of pregnant patients.


METHODS
Survey conducted in a single Brazilian university using anonymous self-responsive questionnaires on how residents deal with sexual health issues of obstetric patients. A total of 154 residents from the three different programs (47 obstetrics-gynecology, 33 psychiatry, 74 internal medicine) participated.


METHODS
Attitude and practice of medical residents regarding sexual health issues of pregnant patients.


RESULTS
Less than 20% of the residents reported that they routinely asked obstetric patients about their sexual health, although almost 70% stated this should be part of every history. Psychiatry residents were significantly more likely to actively seek information about the sexual health of obstetric patients than others (57.6%, 17%, 4.1%, psychiatry, obstetrics-gynecology, internal medicine, respectively, P<0.001). Although over 80% answered that most obstetric patients react well or indifferently to questions about sexual function, less than 25% of the residents reported being completely confident answering these questions, and 71% of them admitted that they lacked specific knowledge in the area of sexual dysfunctions. The two main obstacles in evaluating patients' sexuality were lack of specific knowledge and not enough time to explore these aspects in medical consultations, reported by 71% and 20% of all participants, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Most residents do not feel comfortable or confident and lack specific knowledge and skills to deal with questions related to sexual problems during pregnancy.
Department of Obstetrics, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP-EPM), Hospital Pérola Byington, Centro de Referência da Saúde da Mulher, São Paulo, Brazil.
Teresa C S B
TC
Vieira
Eduardo
E
de Souza
Carmita H N
CH
Abdo
Maria Regina
MR
Torloni
Tania G M
TG
Santana
Alessandra P L
AP
Leite
Mary U
MU
Nakamura
D000328:Adult; D001938:Brazil; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice / Q000208:ethnology*; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency; D008297:Male; D010820:Physicians; D011247:Pregnancy; D060728:Reproductive Health / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D000078329:Workforce; D055815:Young Adult