SEXUALITY AND CULTURE, vol.22, no.4, pp.1507-1515, 2018 (ESCI)
This study was planned as a qualitative study to identify the changes in the sex life
and problems of 15 married women 60 years or older who presented to Family
Health Centers affiliated with Istanbul Besiktas Community Health Center. Study
data were collected using the questionnaire prepared by the researchers based on the
literature, via face-to-face interview method. Based on the participants’ perceptions
and expressions of sexuality, the findings of the study were discussed using themes
such as marital harmony, lack of sexual desire due to the feeling of loss, fraternity,
feelings of friendship, dyspareunia due to vaginal dryness and lack of sexual desire
because of the culture. Participants and their statements were codified in the order
they were included in the study. The mean age of the participants was 66.53 and the
mean duration of marriage was 43.6 years. It was found that the participants who
stated that their marital harmony was good perceived sexuality as a positive issue
while those who had poor marital harmony perceived it as a negative issue; and that
those who experienced loss had problems such as lack of sexual desire and dyspareunia
due to the cultural environment and physical shortcomings. We propose that in
order to improve health and enhance the quality of life at the advanced age, nursing
and counseling services specific to that period are required.