Guadarrama RM, Ortiz ZMC, Moreno CYC, González PAA

Language: Spanish
References: 17
Page: 72-79
PDF size: 215.13 Kb.

ABSTRACT

Objectives: To know the sexual activity characteristics in the elderly and to associate it with the health related quality of life.
Participants and method: Cross-sectional study developed with 100 elderly patients at Tlalpan Clinic. A test validated in Chile, and a Nottingham Health Profile for quality of life was applied. Statistical inference was used with correlation coefficient of Spearman’s. A significance level of 0.05 was applied, using the SPSS statistical program version 12.0.
Results: 73% of the patients referred having sexual intercourse, 77% mentioned sexual activity as very important but only 40% considered it to be satisfactory. There was no association among any of the characteristics of the activity and age but there was with gender and level of studies. An association was found practically among all dimensions of quality of life and the frequency, quality and importance of keeping a sexual activity.
Conclusions: It is accepted that sexual activity is not necessarily linked to sexual intercourse but it is to a better self-perceived quality of life. It is not age but gender what conditions the decrease of sexual activity. A high percentage considers very important to keep an active sexual life, a condition which must be taken into account by health workers in order to elaborate programs regarding this.

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