Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Mental and Sexual Health of Women

Abstract

Objective: This study was conducted to determine the effects on women's mental and sexual health of the COVID-19 pandemic. Materials and Methods: The research in the case-control involved 315 women, out of which 171 were part of the control group. These women had no history of COVID-19 infection before and were free from any mental or physical health issues. The remaining 144 female participants formed the case group. They had contracted COVID-19 disease at least two months ago and had tested negative. Results: Based on the study data, women who have had COVID-19 show a higher rate of moderate to severe depression (p<0.05). Additionally, anxiety, depression, and negative self-esteem are more severe among those who have had COVID-19 compared to those who have not (p<0.05). The study also found that women who have not had COVID-19 experience better sexual function (p<0.05). Conclusions: As a result, this study showed that anxiety along with depressive symptoms increased in participants with COVID-19 disease and that these parameters negatively affected female sexual function.

Keywords

• BDI
• BSI
• COVID-19
• female
• sexual function

KOVİD-19 Pandemisinin Kadınların Ruh ve Cinsel Sağlığı Üzerindeki Etkileri

Öz

Amaç: Bu çalışma KOVİD-19 pandemisinin kadınların mental ve cinsel sağlığı üzerindeki etkilerini belirlemek amacıyla yapıldı. Materyal ve Metot: Vaka kontrol tipte olan araştırmaya toplam 315 kadın katıldı. Kadınlardan 171’i daha önce KOVİD-19 enfeksiyonu geçirmemiş, mental ve fiziksel açıdan sağlık sorunu bulunmayan kontrol grubunu oluşturan kişilerdi. 144 kadın katılımcı ise en az iki ay önce KOVİD-19 hastalığını geçirmiş ve testi negatifleşmiş vaka grubunu oluşturuyordu. Bulgular: Çalışmadan elde edilen verilere göre orta ve şiddetli depresyona sahip olan kadınların oranı KOVİD-19 geçirenlerde daha fazladır (p<0.05). KOVİD-19 geçirenlerde anksiyete, depresyon ve olumsuz benlik durumları hastalığı geçirmeyenlere kıyasla çok daha şiddetli düzeylerde görülmektedir (p<0.05). KOVİD-19 geçirmeyen kadınların daha iyi bir cinsel fonksiyona sahip olduğu saptanmıştır (p<0.05). Sonuç: Sonuç olarak bu çalışma, KOVİD-19 hastalığı geçiren katılımcılarda depresif belirtiler ile beraber kaygının arttığını ve bu parametrelerin kadın cinsel işlevini olumsuz etkilediğini gösterdi.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• BDE
• Cinsel işlev
• Kadın
• KSE
• KOVİD-19

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