Pelvic floor muscle strength of women consulting at the gynecology outpatient clinics and its correlation with sexual dysfunction: a cross-sectional study

Objective: To investigate the pelvic floor muscle strength of the women and evaluate its possible correlation with sexual dysfunction

Methods: In this cross-sectional type study, stratified clusters were used for the sampling method. Index of Female Sexual Function [IFSF] worksheet were used for questions on sexual function

The pelvic floor muscle strength of subjects was assessed by perineometer. The chi-squared test, logistic regression and Pearson's correlation analysis were used for the statistical analysis

Results: Four hundred thirty primiparous women, mean age 38.5 participated in this study. The average pelvic floor muscle strength value was found 31.4+/-9.6 cm H[2]0 and the average Index of Female Sexual Function [IFSF] score was found 26.5+/-6.9. Parity [odds ratio OR=5.546] and age 40 or higher [OR=3.484] were found correlated with pelvic floor muscle weakness [p<0.05]

The factors directly correlated with sexual dysfunction were found being overweight [OR=2.105] and age 40 or higher [OR=2.451] [p<0.05]

Pearson's correlation analysis showed that there was a statistically significant linear correlation between the muscular strength of the pelvic floor and sexual function [p=0.001]

Conclusion: The results suggested subjects with decreased pelvic floor muscle strength value had higher frequency of sexual dysfunction

General home hygiene practices and infectious disease transmission in Malatya, Turkey

To determine the general home hygiene practices of housewives and to examine the relationship between hygienic practices in the home and the transmission of infectious diseases symptoms among housewifes. This is a cross-sectional study conducted on 339 housewifes. The questionnaire included questions about home hygiene practices: general cleaning, laundry, kitchen hygiene and sociodemographic characteristics and about illness information including whether or not some symptoms had been present within the previous 30 days. The dependent variable, infectious disease transmission was defined as the presence in two or more individuals within the same household of one or more of the same symptoms. In more than one-third of households [122 of 339, 36%], had symptoms during the previous 30 days. Transmission was 16.0% among women who used self-disinfecting sponge, 42.6% among women who used only sponge or cloth [p=0.001]. Transmission was found higher among those who used detergent or soap for floor cleaning than women who used bleach. Duration of sponge/clothe use in kitchen and frequency of using bleach was found significant. Home hygiene practices was found relevant to transmission of infectious disease symptoms among household members. Use of disinfectants in home cleaning can have an effective role in home hygiene and healthcare situations