Women’s Sexual Experiences and Adjustment after Cervical Cancer Treatment in Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital, Addis Ababa-Ethiopia: A Qualitative Study.
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Date
2019-06
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Addis Abeba University
Abstract
Background: Cervical cancer continues to be one of the most common cancers and one of theleading causes of cancer deaths globally. Women’s experiences and sexual adjust ment aftertreatment once started for cervical cancer remain relatively unexplored particularly in Ethiopia.
Objective: This study aimed to explore the experiences of women and sexual adjustment aftertreatment for cervical cancer in Black Lion Specialized hospital.
Method: A phenomenological approach was applied and semi structured interviews were used tocollect the data between February and March 2019. The interviews were audio-taped and analyzed using the procedures of thematic content qualitative data analysis.
Results: From the analysis of individual interview data, four themes emerged, namely,Treatment Side effect, Sexual Problems after radiation therapy, Knowledge deficient and coping strategies of sexual relation which reflect women’s cervical cancer treatment related problems.
Conclusion: The findings of this study added to the existing body of knowledge on Sexual experience of women after pelvic radiotherapy for cervical cancer in Ethiopia and elsewhere.Sexual lives of women are affected due to various reasons and pelvic radiotherapy for the treatment of cervical cancer. Health professionals should be aware of these effects and shouldencourage their patients to express their problems and provide effective, individual counsel toeach client.
Recommendations: There should be well-established integrated service set up to address the sexual related problems as a result of treatment side effect on the patient’s physical,psychological as well as social problems of the treated women in Tikur Anbessa Hospital. Inaddition to that health professionals should accomplish their responsibilities to address thewomen in need, More staffs should be considered to decrease work load and get enough time to tackle the problems which could decrease the influences related with knowledge deficit and Federal Ministry of Health should give emphasis for women who receive radiotherapy treatment and its consequences on sexuality dysfunction and the impact on the quality of life.
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Cervical cancer, sexual experience, adjustment, Addis Ababa