Revisiting sexuality conflicts of patients with pathological coronary conditions. / Resgatando conflitos relativos à sexualidade dos clientes portadores de coronariopatias

AUTOR(ES)
DATA DE PUBLICAÇÃO

2007

RESUMO

This is a quali-quantitiative, descriptive study aimed at surveying the difficulties of coronary sufferers regarding the risk factors for their conditions, and how these difficulties relate to their sexuality. Buenos adaptation of Freires theoretical and methodological framework has been used. The sample population was comprised of 36 male and female residents of Brodowski-SP, aged between 23 and 86 years, most of whom were married and users of the Unified Health Care System, and had been diagnosed with coronary artery disease. The data were collected between October 2006 and July 2007 in the homes of the subjects by means of a semi-structured interview. Personal information, risk factors and the main diagnosis were the object of quantitative analysis whereas the focus of qualitative analysis was on the questions related to the core theme of the study, and involved transcribing and categorizing reports, and extracting 11 generating themes that allowed for discussion and pedagogical interventions. The coronary conditions occurred in males after their 23rd year of age, and after the 40th year in females; the body mass indices for 77.8% of the sample were above 25kg/m2; the predominant instruction level among all subjects was incomplete fundamental schooling (47.2%); the sample differed according to gender in regard to the understanding of risk factors for the manifestation of their coronary condition; angina pectoris prevailed as the main diagnosis among 61% of the subjects; the understanding of health-illness which was made explicit in the reports by subjects was grounded on the theory of social determination, with the meaning of life being associated with the existence of health in the family as a positive aspect, and the occurrence of disease being negative; the fear of death was reported when the subjects talked about their cardiac condition; identifying physical, social and emotional limitations as difficulties following the occurrence of their disease. The words sexuality and sex were perceived as synonyms by the sample, and the subjects defined them as sexual intercourse, making clear the taboos surrounding the topic; female submission to males became evident as did the conflicts in sex life following the occurrence of the pathological cardiac condition since subjects reported difficulties to sustain sexual activity, abandoning genitality in some cases; even though difficulties had affected the couples relationship prior to the occurrence of the cardiac condition. Family members expressed their concern for the subjects after the manifestation of the coronary pathology; an attitude which was understood by them as care and, on occasion, as limitation to living; finally they referred individual and collective needs which became explicit during the educational intervention. The findings of this study confirm the need for health care professionals to exercise new forms of care to patients. In this regard, they can participate in the construction of alternative treatments that promote holistic care to human beings.

ASSUNTO(S)

coronariopatia enfermagem sexualidade coronary pathologies sexuality nursing educação em saúde health education

ACESSO AO ARTIGO

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