The Effect of Sexual Counseling Based on the Better Model on the Quality of Women’S Sexual Life During Pregnancy: A Randomized Clinical Trial Publisher



M Pourheidari MAHBOOBEH ; Mf Far Maryam FARJAM ; S Talebi SOLMAZ ; S Paryab SAHAR ; O Garkaz O ; Mf Far Maral FARGHANI
Source: Journal of Nursing and Midwifery Sciences Published:2025

Abstract

Background: A decreased quality of sexual life is one of the consequences of pregnancy. Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the effect of sexual counseling based on the BETTER model on the quality of sexual life in pregnant women. Methods: This clinical trial was conducted on two groups of pregnant women (intervention: 64, control: 64) using simple randomization in the city of Bahmai, in the provinces of Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad, Iran, in 2021. A sexual quality of life questionnaire was administered before, immediately after, and one month following the intervention. The intervention group participated in two sexual counseling sessions of 45-60 minutes based on the BETTER model (these sessions were held at 25-14 weeks of pregnancy), while the control group received the usual care during pregnancy. Data were analyzed using descriptive (frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation) and inferential (chi-square, t-test, ANOVA, and repeated measures) statistics. Results: The mean scores of the quality of sexual life after the intervention in the counseling and control groups were 88.98 ± 15.01 and 77.62 ± 17.12, respectively, indicating a significant relationship (P = 0.002). Additionally, one month after the intervention, the mean scores in the counseling and control groups were 90.81 ± 14.15 and 75.08 ± 16.65, respectively, showing a significant relationship (P = 0.001). The results of the repeated measurement analysis revealed that the time effect, time-group interaction effect, and group effect were also significant (P = 0.001). Conclusions: The findings of the study indicate that the BETTER model plays an effective role in improving the quality of women’s sexual life during pregnancy, and planning to use this model may be beneficial. © 2025 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.