Sexual function and intimate partner violence, in a sample of Ecuadorian women

Abstract

Introduction. Intimate partner violence occurs in any area, be it social, economic, cultural, sexual, the latter being the reason for the research, since sexual health is an important part of the quality of life and one of the rights of the human being. This research revolves around the question of what parameters with abnormal traits are evidenced in the dimensions of sexual function in women victims of violence who attend psychotherapy at the Nosotras Equidad Foundation, in the city of Riobamba, in the province of Chimborazo. Objective. Identify changes in the sexual function of those who went through episodes of intimate partner violence, in a sample of Ecuadorian women. Methodology. For this, a quantitative, non-experimental, descriptive and correlational, cross-sectional study was chosen with the use of two instruments: Questionnaire of Changes in Sexual Function and Scale of Violence and Severity Index; in a sample comprised of 255 women, whose ages are minimum 18 years and maximum 65 years. Results. It is evident that the affectations in the sexual function are correlated with the violence in couple. Thus testing the hypothesis that, the more violence, the parameters with abnormal ranges in desire / frequency will be presented; desire / interest; pleasure; activation / arousal and orgasm Conclusion. In the study, the 255 women experience violence in the social fabric of the relationship as a couple. Sexual intimacy is affected by presenting dysfunctions, manifested in the absence of interest, desire, excitement and orgasm. The instruments applied reveal that sexual function is associated with psychological and physical violence; being physical violence, in the majority of cases of severe character; in other words, they are women who spend their lives with intimidation and a high degree of suffering.