Strategies to promote the provision of sexual health services during menopause: a qualitative study from the perspective of menopausal women and healthcare providers in Isfahan city, Iran
Abstract Background It is important to care for the sexual function of women during menopause as it can affect their quality of life. However, the services related to this area have been neglected in the health system and are not provided at the desired level. Therefore, the present study aimed to i...
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2025-01-01
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-025-12278-8 |
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| author | Maryam Moradi Mahnaz Noroozi Firoozeh Mostafavi Marjan Beigi |
| author_facet | Maryam Moradi Mahnaz Noroozi Firoozeh Mostafavi Marjan Beigi |
| author_sort | Maryam Moradi |
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| description | Abstract Background It is important to care for the sexual function of women during menopause as it can affect their quality of life. However, the services related to this area have been neglected in the health system and are not provided at the desired level. Therefore, the present study aimed to identify strategies to promote the provision of sexual health services during menopause in Isfahan city, Iran. Methods Participants of this qualitative study consisted of 19 menopausal women and 15 health service providers with work experience in providing sexual health services to menopausal women, selected using purposive sampling with maximum variation in the city of Isfahan, Iran. Data were collected through in-depth semi-structured individual interviews plus field notes and analyzed using conventional qualitative content analysis. Results Data analysis led to the extraction of three main categories: 1-providing comprehensive and client-centered care with five sub-categories, namely “screening and active search for recognition of sexual dysfunction”, “compliance with cultural considerations in service delivery”, “tailoring treatment plans for individual patients”, “collaborative decision‐making approach”, and “improving specialty care follow-up”; 2- improving infrastructure for better service delivery with three sub-categories, namely “allocation of appropriate physical space”, “strengthening teamwork and interdisciplinary cooperation”, and “provision of cost-effective services”; and 3- expanding services as well as enhancing access with five sub-categories, namely “integration of sexual health services in primary health care”, “using telemedicine to provide services”, “expansion of intersectoral relations”, “introducing sexual health services”, and “conducting research on sexual health services”. Conclusions The results emphasize the importance of providing comprehensive and client-centered services and care, improving service delivery infrastructure, expanding services, and promoting access to sexual health to enhance the sexual function of postmenopausal women. Through these strategies, healthcare systems can significantly contribute to improving postmenopausal women’s sexual functioning and ultimately their quality of life. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-1414a4c6f19c48f6b7df2f51b5391cd0 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1472-6963 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Health Services Research |
| spelling | doaj-art-1414a4c6f19c48f6b7df2f51b5391cd02025-01-26T12:22:03ZengBMCBMC Health Services Research1472-69632025-01-0125111310.1186/s12913-025-12278-8Strategies to promote the provision of sexual health services during menopause: a qualitative study from the perspective of menopausal women and healthcare providers in Isfahan city, IranMaryam Moradi0Mahnaz Noroozi1Firoozeh Mostafavi2Marjan Beigi3Student Research Committee, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Isfahan University of Medical SciencesDepartment of Midwifery and Reproductive Health, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Isfahan University of Medical SciencesDepartment of Health Education and Promotion, School of Health, Isfahan University of Medical SciencesDepartment of Midwifery and Reproductive Health, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Isfahan University of Medical SciencesAbstract Background It is important to care for the sexual function of women during menopause as it can affect their quality of life. However, the services related to this area have been neglected in the health system and are not provided at the desired level. Therefore, the present study aimed to identify strategies to promote the provision of sexual health services during menopause in Isfahan city, Iran. Methods Participants of this qualitative study consisted of 19 menopausal women and 15 health service providers with work experience in providing sexual health services to menopausal women, selected using purposive sampling with maximum variation in the city of Isfahan, Iran. Data were collected through in-depth semi-structured individual interviews plus field notes and analyzed using conventional qualitative content analysis. Results Data analysis led to the extraction of three main categories: 1-providing comprehensive and client-centered care with five sub-categories, namely “screening and active search for recognition of sexual dysfunction”, “compliance with cultural considerations in service delivery”, “tailoring treatment plans for individual patients”, “collaborative decision‐making approach”, and “improving specialty care follow-up”; 2- improving infrastructure for better service delivery with three sub-categories, namely “allocation of appropriate physical space”, “strengthening teamwork and interdisciplinary cooperation”, and “provision of cost-effective services”; and 3- expanding services as well as enhancing access with five sub-categories, namely “integration of sexual health services in primary health care”, “using telemedicine to provide services”, “expansion of intersectoral relations”, “introducing sexual health services”, and “conducting research on sexual health services”. Conclusions The results emphasize the importance of providing comprehensive and client-centered services and care, improving service delivery infrastructure, expanding services, and promoting access to sexual health to enhance the sexual function of postmenopausal women. Through these strategies, healthcare systems can significantly contribute to improving postmenopausal women’s sexual functioning and ultimately their quality of life.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-025-12278-8Sexual healthMenopauseHealth systemWomanQualitative study |
| spellingShingle | Maryam Moradi Mahnaz Noroozi Firoozeh Mostafavi Marjan Beigi Strategies to promote the provision of sexual health services during menopause: a qualitative study from the perspective of menopausal women and healthcare providers in Isfahan city, Iran BMC Health Services Research Sexual health Menopause Health system Woman Qualitative study |
| title | Strategies to promote the provision of sexual health services during menopause: a qualitative study from the perspective of menopausal women and healthcare providers in Isfahan city, Iran |
| title_full | Strategies to promote the provision of sexual health services during menopause: a qualitative study from the perspective of menopausal women and healthcare providers in Isfahan city, Iran |
| title_fullStr | Strategies to promote the provision of sexual health services during menopause: a qualitative study from the perspective of menopausal women and healthcare providers in Isfahan city, Iran |
| title_full_unstemmed | Strategies to promote the provision of sexual health services during menopause: a qualitative study from the perspective of menopausal women and healthcare providers in Isfahan city, Iran |
| title_short | Strategies to promote the provision of sexual health services during menopause: a qualitative study from the perspective of menopausal women and healthcare providers in Isfahan city, Iran |
| title_sort | strategies to promote the provision of sexual health services during menopause a qualitative study from the perspective of menopausal women and healthcare providers in isfahan city iran |
| topic | Sexual health Menopause Health system Woman Qualitative study |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-025-12278-8 |
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