Abstract
Objective:
To evaluate the association between sexual function and intimate partner violence (IPV) among sexually active, middle-aged women in Spain, examining each outcome in separate cross-sectional models.
Methods:
This cross-sectional study included 451 women (40-64 y) randomly recruited from primary care settings in southeastern Spain. Participants completed the 6-item Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI-6), the Woman Abuse Screening Tool (WAST), and a general sociodemographic and clinical questionnaire. Factors associated with low sexual function and a positive IPV screen were analyzed using generalized linear models of the Poisson family to estimate adjusted prevalence ratios (aPR).
Results:
The mean age of participants was 50.09±7.05 years. The prevalence of low sexual function (FSFI-6 score ≤19) was 33.7%, and the prevalence of a positive IPV screen (WAST score ≥14) was 16.6%. Low sexual function was higher among women with a positive IPV screen compared with those without (77.3% vs. 25.0%,
P
Conclusions:
Low sexual function and a positive IPV screen were statistically associated in this community-based sample of middle-aged women. A higher prevalence of IPV was observed among certain ethnic minorities. These associations persisted after adjustment for sociodemographic and clinical factors.