Sexual Functioning in a Cohort of Pakistani Men with Spinal Cord Injury

Factors affecting sexual health in individuals with spinal cord injury: A systematic scoping review

PURPOSE

This study aims to review the literature to explore some factors affecting sexual and partnership adjustment in individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI).

METHODS

This study was based on the methodological framework of scoping reviews, including 3 methodological steps: (1) identifying relevant studies (searching for related studies); (2) selecting related studies; (3) collecting key findings, summarizing, and reporting the results. The electronic databases were searched including Medline (PubMed), Scopus, Web of Science, Embase, and Cochrane Library. Studies were included if they reported data about the related factors of sexual and partnership adjustment in individuals with SCI. No limitations were considered in terms of time or methodology of the search.

RESULTS

After the full-text screening, 52 studies were included from the year of 1978 - 2019 with various methodologies. The present review demonstrated that proper sexual health among individuals with SCI is related to several factors including the anatomical factor, level of the injury, completeness of the injury, psycho-social factor, socio-economic status, and type of relationship.

CONCLUSION

With consideration of factors affecting sexual and partnership adjustment in individuals with SCI, a better estimation of sexual health can be achieved in clinical to improve the relationship and quality of life.

Dyadic adjustment and the relationship between sexual self-consciousness and sexual dysfunction in individuals with spinal cord injuries: A descriptive study

PURPOSE

This study was conducted to determine the dyadic adjustment between individuals with SCI and their spouses and the relationship between their sexual self-consciousness and sexual life and to evaluate it according to the objectification theory.

METHOD

This descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted with 131 married individuals with SCI registered in the physical therapy and rehabilitation outpatient clinic of a university hospital between February 2020 and April 2021. The data of the study were collected using a Descriptive Information Form, the American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale (ASIA), the Dyadic Adjustment Scale (DAS), the Sexual Self-Consciousness Scale (SSCS), and the Arizona Sexual Experiences Scale (ASEX). In the study, the predictors of the sexual life of individuals with SCI were evaluated with the Stepwise Multiple Linear Regression analysis. In addition, predictors of sexual dysfunction in individuals with SCI were evaluated by the logistic regression analysis. The results were discussed within the framework of objectification theory.

RESULTS

According to the results of the study, .67.2% of the individuals with spinal cord injuries experienced sexual functionality problems; increased age, falling injuries, and being in ASIA grade A increased sexual self-awareness and sexual dysfunction; and being a male with SCI increased sexual focus. It was found that the adjustment between individuals with SCI and their spouses was a predictor that significantly reduced sexual embarrassment, sexual self-consciousness, and sexual dysfunction and that the strong adjustment between couples was an important factor for the prevention of sexual dysfunction development.

CONCLUSION

It was found that most individuals with spinal cord injuries experienced sexual dysfunction. The importance of dyadic adjustment and sexual self-consciousness has come to the fore in the sexual life of these individuals.

An evaluation of the factors that affect the sexual satisfaction of people with spinal cord injuries

Objective: To evaluate the relationships between the variables that affect the sexual satisfaction of patients with spinal cord injuries.Design: Descriptive and cross-sectional survey.Setting: The physical medicine and rehabilitation outpatient clinic of a university hospital in Turkey.Participants: This study was performed from July to December2018. It included 103 patients with spinal cord injuries.Outcome Measures: The data were collected using an introductory information form, the American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale and the Golombok Rust Inventory of Sexual Satisfaction. Data were evaluated using the chi-square test, the Mann-Whitney U test, the Kruskal-Wallis test and linear regression.Results: The total mean scores on the Golombok Rust Inventory of Sexual Satisfaction were 40.2 ± 21.6 for males and 44.9 ± 18.1 for females. According to the linear regression analysis, model VII presented the best results of the relationship between physiological and psychological determinants that affect the sexual satisfaction of patients with spinal cord injuries. Model VII consisted of the variables of ASIA A and B scores, age, injury due to falling from height, being a housewife, and thinking of being unable to reach future goals. These explained 75.4% of the variation in sexual satisfaction scores.Conclusion: The participants' mean scores on the Golombok Rust Inventory of Sexual Satisfaction were found to be affected by various variables. A significant relationship between their mean scores on the American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) Impairment Scale and the Golombok Rust Inventory of Sexual Satisfaction was determined.