The belief rate to sexual myths in nurses and effecting factors
S.D. Torun1, F. Torun2
1Marmara University Medical Faculty Public Health
Department, Istanbul, Turkey, 2Umraniye State Hospital, Psychiatry Clinic,
Istanbul, Turkey
Objective To determine the rate of sexual myths in nurses
working in primary health care centers in Umraniye region of Istanbul. The
effects of menstruation age, age of first sexual experience, result of first
intercourse, masturbation experience, satisfaction from her own sexual life and
whether she talks with her partner about sex on these myths.
Method Data were
collected between 17-28 October 2005. A self applied questionnaire including
some characteristics of nurses and some sexual myths. Chi-square test and
Fisher’s Chi-square test are used for statistical analysis.
Results A total of
82 nurses (age between 22-54) participated as volunteers. Mean age of them was
34.16 (sd =6). Three were never been married and two of them hadn’t any previous
experience of intercourse. The first sexual knowledge references were most
commonly friends, secondly school and books. The current sexual knowledge
references were most commonly books, husbands and friends. Mean menstruation age
was 13.11 (sd=1.17), mean age of first intercourse was 22.69 (sd=2.56).
Masturbation ratio among all was 22% (n=18). Mean age for masturbation was 18.9
(sd=4.44). The belief rate to sexual myths was 51.7%. The most frequently
accepted myths were “Good sex ends with orgasm” (95.1%), “Every
man should know how to sexually satisfy a woman” (89%) “Men are always
ready, willing and wanting sex” (86.6%), “Erection is always a sign of
concupiscence of sexuality” (77.5%), “Oral sex is foul” (73.2%),
“Masturbation during sex is erroneous” (72%). Participants who
experienced first intercourse before age 24, whom first intercourse ended with
any problem such as vaginismus and who are not satisfied with their own sexual
life believe on the last myth much more (p<0.05). In total 44.9% of the nurses believe the myth "A larger size of penis is important for sexual enjoyment". This ratio was higher among nurses who don't talk about sex with their partners, who experienced negative feelings (e.g. shame, fear, dirtiness) when they first menstruate and who experienced a problem at first intercourse (p<0.05). The least commonly accepted myths were "Women initiating sex are immoral" (1.2%) and second least was "Fantasizing about someone else is immoral and unfaithful" (34.1%).
Conclusion Although
nearly all participants have had an active sexual life, and are accepted as
familiar with human physiology and psychology, unrealistic sexual myths are
common among them. There is need for qualified resources of knowledge of sex for
decrement of these myths even in nurses.