Sexuality during pregnancy: a survey among urban pregnant african women

The aim of this study is to assess the opinions and the practice of pregnant women on sexuality during pregnancy in an african setting. It is a voluntary and anonymous cross sectional survey conducted in September 2004 in an antenatal clinic in Bobo Dioulasso, Burkina Faso. Data collected are analyzed using EPI INFO 2000. A total of 95 pregnant women were interviewed. The profile of the woman who participated in the study is as followed: a mean age of 25 years, having no formal literacy, mainly housewife and Muslim, engaged in a monogamous marriage in 50% of the cases and bearing a pregnancy of 5 months of gestational age. The women's opinions on sexuality during pregnancy are stated as followed: for 92.6% sexual intercourse is possible during pregnancy and that is not related to their instruction level (chi(2) = 4.4 and p= 0.81). In 85% of the cases, the women say that they have sexual intercourse during the time of the survey and that is related to the fact that they thought that sexual intercourse is possible during pregnancy (chi(2) = 14.47 and p = 0.005) but not related to the gestational age (chi(2) = 13.2 and p= 0.67). The majority of the women (60%) say that sexual intercourse has no harmful effect on the baby to be born. The two main reasons given by the women for sexual activity during pregnancy are the pleasure of the couple follow az ed by the pleasure of their partner. Conclusion. - In urban setting in Burkina Faso, sexuality is a reality in pregnant women. In-depth surveys may be needed to precise its essential underlying factors. (C) 2007 Elsevier Masson SAS. Tous droits reserves.