How Iranian Women with Human Papillomavirus Infections Describe Their Male Counterparts Risky Sexual Behaviours?

Corresponding Author:
Fatemeh Oskouie,
Nursing Care Research Center and
School of Nursing and Midwifery,
Iran University of Medical Sciences,
Tehran, Iran.
E-mail: oskouie.f@iums.ac.ir
      fatemehoskouie@gmail.com

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND

Human papillomavirus infection among sexually active women is a challenging clinical matter. Women's viewpoints toward healthy or risky sexual behaviours are regarded as central influences on male counterparts infected with sexually transmitted infection. In this study we aimed to explore the means by which women with HPV conceptualize their male counterpart's risky sexual behaviours.

METHODS

The qualitative research was carried out from September 2017 to December 2018 in the Firozgar hospital in Tehran, using content analysis. Participants were 30 HPV-positive women. Data was collected by three focus group discussions using a semi-structured interviews guide. Moreover, we collected demographic and self-rated physical health data. Two co-authors served as coders.

RESULTS

Six themes including sexual life and gender dynamics, Resentment and risk, sexuality education and risk awareness, male oriented sexuality, substance abuse and sexual risk, marital construction and risk frame emerged from data. Data revealed that women had conceptualized their sexual self-concept in a male-oriented frame and put themselves at risk in order to confront this aggrieved partnership.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings revealed views of affected women with papillomavirus infections. Having risky sexual behaviours from their spouse, multi partnerships, hiding the disease, lack of condom use, violence, lack of emotional support, financial support and inadequate sexual life role could affect the marital system in Iranian married women and leads them to adopt risky behaviour and subsequently to contract HPV.

KEY WORDS

Papillomavirus Infections, Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Risk-Taking, Sexuality, Female, Risky Behaviour