The relationship between pregnancy risk perception and attitudes toward sexuality during pregnancy among pregnant women in Türkiye: a cross-sectional study.

Abstract

Background: Pregnancy is a period marked by anatomical, physiological, and psychological changes that may be associated with women's perceptions of risk and their attitudes toward sexuality during pregnancy. Risk perception during pregnancy is a subjective experience shaped by personal, medical, psychological, and cultural factors. Sexuality during pregnancy may also be associated with myths, misconceptions, physiological changes, and concerns about maternal or fetal safety. Although previous studies have examined sexual function, sexual beliefs, and body image during pregnancy, limited evidence is available on the relationship between pregnancy-related risk perception and attitudes toward sexuality during pregnancy. This study aimed to examine this relationship among pregnant women in Türkiye.

Methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted with 306 pregnant women who applied to family health centers in a district in Türkiye. The sample size was determined using statistical power analysis, and data were collected through structured face-to-face interviews. Data collection tools included a Personal Information Form, the Perception of Pregnancy Risk Questionnaire (PPRQ), and the Attitude Scale toward Sexuality during Pregnancy (ASSP). Descriptive statistics, independent samples t-tests, one-way analysis of variance with Bonferroni post-hoc tests, and Pearson correlation analysis were performed using IBM SPSS Statistics version 25. Statistical significance was accepted at p < 0.05.

Results: The mean total PPRQ score was 41.75 +/- 13.97. The mean score for risk perception toward oneself was 42.37 +/- 17.13, and the mean score for risk perception toward the baby was 40.98 +/- 16.58. The mean total ASSP score was 104.99 +/- 23.23, and 23.9% of participants had a positive attitude toward sexuality during pregnancy according to the ASSP cut-off point. A weak positive correlation was found between risk perception toward the baby and approval of sexuality during pregnancy (r = 0.195, p = 0.001), and between risk perception toward the baby and total ASSP score (r = 0.143, p = 0.012). A weak negative correlation was found between risk perception toward oneself and total ASSP score (r = -0.215, p < 0.001). Significant differences in PPRQ and ASSP scores were observed according to several sociodemographic and pregnancy-related characteristics.

Conclusions: This cross-sectional study found weak correlations between pregnancy risk perception sub-dimensions and attitudes toward sexuality during pregnancy. The findings should be interpreted cautiously because of the weak magnitude of the correlations, the cross-sectional design, the single-district sample, and the use of self-reported data.