Sexual Health in Patients Admitted to Geriatric Psychiatry Wards in Flanders (Belgium)

Ageist stereotypes hinder sexual health and rights in late life. These challenges are amplified for geriatric psychiatry patients, who face dual stigmas around sexual and mental health in old age.

With this paper, we aim to get a better insight into the sexual health characteristics of patients admitted to geriatric psychiatry wards.

Between July 2019 and March 2020, 100 inpatients from three geriatric psychiatry wards in Flanders (Belgium) participated in structured face-to-face interviews. The participation rate was 58%.

Over 30% were sexually active, while 78% of inactive patients experienced physical tenderness in the past 12 months. Among sexually active participants, 77% were satisfied with their sexual life, compared to 68% of sexually inactive patients. One participant identified as non-cisgender, and 18% as non-heterosexual. Male patients were more likely to be sexually active than female patients (p = 0.033). On average, participants exhibited less knowledge about and/or more negative attitudes towards sexuality in later life (p = 0.030). Participants provided positive feedback during the interviews.

Sexual health remains important in patients admitted to geriatric psychiatry wards.

Limitations include restricted geographical scope and sample size, exclusion of cognitively impaired patients, lack of data on psychopharmaceutical use, and potential selection and cultural bias.