Sexual function and wellbeing of women using modern contraceptive methods in Rwanda: a multicenter cross-sectional...

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Health
• Sexual Medicine
• Public Health

Background:

• Family planning (FP) is crucial for maternal health and women's well-being.
• Rwanda faces a significant unmet need for FP services.
• Women's perceptions of contraceptive methods influence their adoption and use.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the sexual function and well-being of women using modern FP methods in Rwanda.
• To identify factors associated with sexual distress among FP users.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study of 415 women using modern FP for ≥6 months across 5 clinics in Rwanda.
• Female Sexual Distress Scale-Revised (FSDS-R) was used to evaluate sexual function (score <11 indicates good function).
• Logistic regression analyzed associations between demographic/clinical factors and sexual distress using R programming.

Main Results:

• 79.5% of women reported good sexual function (FSDS-R <11).
• Copper intrauterine device (IUD) and permanent sterilization users reported higher sexual satisfaction.
• Underweight women (BMI <18.5) had higher odds of sexual distress (OR=3.08), while IUD users had lower odds compared to implant users (OR=0.14).

Conclusions:

• The majority of Rwandan women using modern FP methods experience satisfactory sexual function.
• Contraceptive method choice and body mass index (BMI) are key predictors of sexual well-being.
• Integrating sexual health counseling into FP programs is vital for informed method choice and improved reproductive well-being.