Determinants of early resumption of postpartum sexual intercourse in sub-Saharan Africa: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background: The World Health Organization recommends that all postpartum women be examined for resumed sexual activity. Despite this, postpartum sexual health education and health promotion are not adequately incorporated into current maternal healthcare systems in low- and middle-income nations. Th...

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Main Authors: Habtamu Gebrehana Belay, Enyew Dagnew Yehuala, Simegnew Asmer Getie, Alemu Degu Ayele, Tigist Seid Yimer, Besfat Berihun Erega, Wassie Yazie Ferede, Mulugeta Dile Worke, Gedefaye Nibret Mihretie
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SAGE Publishing 2024-11-01
Series:Women's Health
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1177/17455057241302303
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author Habtamu Gebrehana Belay
Enyew Dagnew Yehuala
Simegnew Asmer Getie
Alemu Degu Ayele
Tigist Seid Yimer
Besfat Berihun Erega
Wassie Yazie Ferede
Mulugeta Dile Worke
Gedefaye Nibret Mihretie
author_facet Habtamu Gebrehana Belay
Enyew Dagnew Yehuala
Simegnew Asmer Getie
Alemu Degu Ayele
Tigist Seid Yimer
Besfat Berihun Erega
Wassie Yazie Ferede
Mulugeta Dile Worke
Gedefaye Nibret Mihretie
author_sort Habtamu Gebrehana Belay
collection DOAJ
description Background: The World Health Organization recommends that all postpartum women be examined for resumed sexual activity. Despite this, postpartum sexual health education and health promotion are not adequately incorporated into current maternal healthcare systems in low- and middle-income nations. There were variations in the prevalence and variables associated with early postpartum sexual intercourse across several studies. Objectives: The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to evaluate the pooled prevalence and associated factors for early postpartum sexual intercourse in sub-Saharan African countries. Data Sources and Methods: Primary studies were identified using international databases such as Scopus, PubMed, Google Scholar, Embase, and CINAHL. The Newcastle‒Ottawa Scale quality assessment tool was used to evaluate the quality and strength of the included studies. STATA version 17 was used for the meta-analysis. The heterogeneity of the studies and publication bias was examined using I 2 statistics and Egger’s regression test. Subgroup analysis decreased the underlying heterogeneity based on the study years and sample sizes. Results: Seventeen primary articles were included in the meta-analysis with 8507 study participants. The pooled prevalence of early postpartum sexual resumption in sub-Saharan Africa was 39.41% (95% CI: 31.55%–47.27%). Primiparous (OR = 3.32; 95% CI: 2.26–5.90), spontaneous vaginal delivery (OR = 5.98; 95% CI: 1.74–20.51), formula feeding (OR = 2.24; 95% CI: 1.46–3.44), family planning (OR = 2.91; 95% CI: 1.89–4.49), husband pressure (OR = 4.99; 95% CI: 1.38–18.05), have no formal education (OR = 2.36; 95% CI: 1.49–3.76), and monogamy (OR = 4.18; 95% CI: 2.27–7.69) were significantly associated with early postpartum sexual resumption. Conclusion: Four out of 10 women had returned to sexual activity within 6 weeks of giving birth. This suggests that a large proportion of women are more vulnerable to unwanted pregnancies and sexual health problems. Sexual health education and counseling should be incorporated into standard postpartum care to increase contraceptive use and delay unplanned pregnancies.
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spelling doaj-art-9ca547de0174432fbcf89cbfe708ce882025-08-20T02:50:19ZengSAGE PublishingWomen's Health1745-50652024-11-012010.1177/17455057241302303Determinants of early resumption of postpartum sexual intercourse in sub-Saharan Africa: A systematic review and meta-analysisHabtamu Gebrehana Belay0Enyew Dagnew Yehuala1Simegnew Asmer Getie2Alemu Degu Ayele3Tigist Seid Yimer4Besfat Berihun Erega5Wassie Yazie Ferede6Mulugeta Dile Worke7Gedefaye Nibret Mihretie8Department of Midwifery, College of Health Sciences, Debre Tabor University, Debre Tabor, EthiopiaDepartment of Midwifery, College of Health Sciences, Debre Tabor University, Debre Tabor, EthiopiaDepartment of Midwifery, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar, EthiopiaDepartment of Midwifery, College of Health Sciences, Debre Tabor University, Debre Tabor, EthiopiaDepartment of Midwifery, College of Health Sciences, Debre Tabor University, Debre Tabor, EthiopiaDepartment of Midwifery, College of Health Sciences, Debre Tabor University, Debre Tabor, EthiopiaDepartment of Midwifery, College of Health Sciences, Debre Tabor University, Debre Tabor, EthiopiaDepartment of Midwifery, College of Health Sciences, Debre Tabor University, Debre Tabor, EthiopiaDepartment of Midwifery, College of Health Sciences, Debre Tabor University, Debre Tabor, EthiopiaBackground: The World Health Organization recommends that all postpartum women be examined for resumed sexual activity. Despite this, postpartum sexual health education and health promotion are not adequately incorporated into current maternal healthcare systems in low- and middle-income nations. There were variations in the prevalence and variables associated with early postpartum sexual intercourse across several studies. Objectives: The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to evaluate the pooled prevalence and associated factors for early postpartum sexual intercourse in sub-Saharan African countries. Data Sources and Methods: Primary studies were identified using international databases such as Scopus, PubMed, Google Scholar, Embase, and CINAHL. The Newcastle‒Ottawa Scale quality assessment tool was used to evaluate the quality and strength of the included studies. STATA version 17 was used for the meta-analysis. The heterogeneity of the studies and publication bias was examined using I 2 statistics and Egger’s regression test. Subgroup analysis decreased the underlying heterogeneity based on the study years and sample sizes. Results: Seventeen primary articles were included in the meta-analysis with 8507 study participants. The pooled prevalence of early postpartum sexual resumption in sub-Saharan Africa was 39.41% (95% CI: 31.55%–47.27%). Primiparous (OR = 3.32; 95% CI: 2.26–5.90), spontaneous vaginal delivery (OR = 5.98; 95% CI: 1.74–20.51), formula feeding (OR = 2.24; 95% CI: 1.46–3.44), family planning (OR = 2.91; 95% CI: 1.89–4.49), husband pressure (OR = 4.99; 95% CI: 1.38–18.05), have no formal education (OR = 2.36; 95% CI: 1.49–3.76), and monogamy (OR = 4.18; 95% CI: 2.27–7.69) were significantly associated with early postpartum sexual resumption. Conclusion: Four out of 10 women had returned to sexual activity within 6 weeks of giving birth. This suggests that a large proportion of women are more vulnerable to unwanted pregnancies and sexual health problems. Sexual health education and counseling should be incorporated into standard postpartum care to increase contraceptive use and delay unplanned pregnancies.https://doi.org/10.1177/17455057241302303
spellingShingle Habtamu Gebrehana Belay
Enyew Dagnew Yehuala
Simegnew Asmer Getie
Alemu Degu Ayele
Tigist Seid Yimer
Besfat Berihun Erega
Wassie Yazie Ferede
Mulugeta Dile Worke
Gedefaye Nibret Mihretie
Determinants of early resumption of postpartum sexual intercourse in sub-Saharan Africa: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Women's Health
title Determinants of early resumption of postpartum sexual intercourse in sub-Saharan Africa: A systematic review and meta-analysis
title_full Determinants of early resumption of postpartum sexual intercourse in sub-Saharan Africa: A systematic review and meta-analysis
title_fullStr Determinants of early resumption of postpartum sexual intercourse in sub-Saharan Africa: A systematic review and meta-analysis
title_full_unstemmed Determinants of early resumption of postpartum sexual intercourse in sub-Saharan Africa: A systematic review and meta-analysis
title_short Determinants of early resumption of postpartum sexual intercourse in sub-Saharan Africa: A systematic review and meta-analysis
title_sort determinants of early resumption of postpartum sexual intercourse in sub saharan africa a systematic review and meta analysis
url https://doi.org/10.1177/17455057241302303
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