The feeling of discomfort during vaginal examination, history of abuse and sexual abuse and post-traumatic stress disorder in women.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the feeling of discomfort during vaginal examinations, history of abuse and sexual abuse and post-traumatic stress disorder in women to determine the correlation between these variables.


BACKGROUND
Women who have experienced abuse or sexual abuse may feel more discomfort during vaginal examinations and may perceive a sensation similar to what they experienced during sexual abuse.


METHODS
Cross-sectional.


METHODS
This study included 320 women receiving a vaginal examination. The data were collected using a questionnaire composed of items related to descriptive characteristics, vaginal examinations and violence, a visual analogue scale of discomfort, and the Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Scale-civilian version.


RESULTS
The mean score for the feeling of discomfort during vaginal examinations was 3·92 ± 3·34; 26·3% of the women described discomfort. Thirty-eight (12%) of the 320 women had experienced emotional violence, 25 (8%) had experienced physical violence, and 25 (8%) had been forced into sexual intercourse by their spouses. Of the women, 64·7% suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder, and physical, emotional and sexual violence were found to increase the possibility of this disorder. Exposure to emotional violence increased the possibility of discomfort during vaginal examinations by 4·5 (OR = 4·482; 95% CI = 1·421-14·134). Post-traumatic stress disorder (OR = 1·038; 95% CI = 1·009-1·066) was found to increase the possibility of discomfort during vaginal examinations; however, as the number of live births increases, women reported a reduction in their discomfort with vaginal examinations.


CONCLUSIONS
This study revealed a positive correlation between discomfort during vaginal examinations and emotional violence and post-traumatic stress disorder but a negative correlation between discomfort during vaginal examinations and the number of live births. In addition, having a history of abuse and sexual abuse was found to increase post-traumatic stress disorder.


CONCLUSIONS
Considering these findings during vaginal examinations may help change women's experiences for the positive and reduce the trauma, this procedure may cause.
Division of Midwifery, Aydın School of Health, Adnan Menderes University, Aydın, Aydın, Turkey.
Gizem
G
Güneş
Division of Midwifery, Aydın School of Health, Adnan Menderes University, Aydın, Aydın, Turkey.
Zekiye
Z
Karaçam
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D018585:Battered Women / Q000523:psychology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D058869:Gynecological Examination / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011594:Psychometrics; D012742:Sex Offenses / Q000523:psychology*; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000451:nursing / Q000523:psychology*; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D064232:Visual Analog Scale; D055815:Young Adult
abuse; care; discomfort; nurse-midwives; post-traumatic stress disorder; sexual abuse; vaginal examination