Prevalence and consequences related to sexual violence in perimenopausal women: A systematic review

Abstract

Introduction: Sexual violence can occur at any time in women's lives and cause them great physical, psychological and emotional harm for them. Sexual violence against perimenopausal women has had more adverse consequences for middle-aged women, their families and society. The present review study was conducted to investigate of sexual violence in perimenopausal women.Methods: In this study, published articles were extracted by searching in authentic scientific databases such as PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, ProQuest, SID, and Magiran and using keywords related to the purpose of studying. Descriptive, descriptive-analytical, case-control and cohort studies were included in this study. Results: In this study, 482 articles were reviewed, of which 7 articles met the inclusion criteria. The results of this study showed that the prevalence of sexual violence in women varied between different races and associated with education, economic status, smoking and alcohol consumption. In middle-aged women with sexual violence, there was a risk of hypertension, elevated neuroendocrines, and proinflammatory cytokines. Also, increased menopausal symptoms such as urinary symptoms, sleep disorders and symptoms of depression and anxiety, vaginal problems and sexual dysfunction were associated with sexual violence.Discussion: Considering that sexual violence can have harmful consequences for middle-aged women, the results of this study can be a guide for health planners to reduce this health-social problem to provide the necessary counseling programs, can meet this social health complication and help to solve middle-aged women problems.