Keywords
Sexuality
Social Perception
Categories
How to Cite
Abstract
Objective: to investigate the perceptions of self-sufficient women aged 60 and older regarding their sexual health at the Manuel Lucero Family Health Center in Olmué, Valparaíso Region, during the first half of 2022.
Materials and methods: qualitative, interpretive, descriptive study with ethical approval. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 12 women aged 60 and older, following informed consent. The instrument, consisting of 10 questions, was validated through expert review and pilot testing. The interviews were transcribed and analyzed using MAXQDA software through coding and categorization.
Results: the participants recognized sexuality as a relevant aspect of their lives, associating it with affection, intimacy, and enjoyment, beyond the sexual act itself. They identified social prejudices that asexualize old age and constrain its expression. They acknowledged physical changes such as vaginal dryness and decreased sexual desire. Satisfying experiences were related to pleasure and emotional connection, while unsatisfying ones were associated with gender-based violence and patriarchal norms.
Conclusions: sexuality in older women is a complex phenomenon, influenced by sociocultural factors and life experiences. The main obstacles are linked to stereotypes about aging, highlighting the need for a comprehensive, prejudice-free, and rights-based approach from midwifery.
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