Sexuality and Spinal Cord Injury: The Lived Experiences of Intimate Partners

2017 ◽  
Vol 37 (3) ◽  
pp. 125-131 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kate Eglseder ◽  
Barbara Demchick
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Spinal Cord Injury ◽  
Sexual Activity ◽  
Lived Experiences ◽  
Complex Phenomenon ◽  
Intimate Partners ◽  
Sexual Activities ◽  
Effective Interventions ◽  
Cord Injury ◽  
Semistructured Interviews

Although sexuality is an integral aspect of the human experience, individuals who sustain a spinal cord injury (SCI) often receive inadequate education to facilitate successful participation in sexual activities. Intimate partners are often not included in discussions related to sexuality during the rehabilitative process. The purpose of this study was to identify the lived experiences of intimate partners of individuals with SCI related to sexuality. Four intimate partners were selected to participate in semistructured interviews related to their lived experiences of sexuality. Participants identified aspects of SCI, extreme discomfort due to self-perceived sexual norms, and a lack of education as contributors to unsuccessful participation in sexual activity. Coupled sexual activity is a complex phenomenon which includes factors that influence both the injured individuals as well as their intimate partners. To provide effective interventions in addressing sexuality, practitioners should consider the entire issue, the couple.

scholarly journals Sexual activity and sexual satisfaction in Korean men with spinal cord injury

Spinal Cord ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 53 (9) ◽  
pp. 697-700 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y-A Choi ◽  
J-H Kang ◽  
H I Shin
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Spinal Cord Injury ◽  
Sexual Activity ◽  
Sexual Satisfaction ◽  
Cord Injury

Blood Pressure during Sexual Activity after Spinal Cord Injury Inaccurately Portrayed

2017 ◽  
Vol 34 (6) ◽  
pp. 1289-1290 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcalee Alexander ◽  
Frédérique Courtois
Keyword(s):  
Blood Pressure ◽  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Spinal Cord Injury ◽  
Sexual Activity ◽  
Cord Injury

scholarly journals Client Perspectives on Reclaiming Participation After a Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury in South Africa

2016 ◽  
Vol 96 (9) ◽  
pp. 1372-1380 ◽  
Author(s):  
Conran Joseph ◽  
Kerstin Wahman ◽  
Julie Phillips ◽  
Lena Nilsson Wikmar
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Spinal Cord Injury ◽  
Physical Therapists ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury ◽  
Cord Injury ◽  
Semistructured Interviews ◽  
Insight Into ◽  
The Continuum

AbstractBackgroundThe development of rehabilitation services promoting participation in people living with a traumatic spinal cord injury (TSCI) is of major concern for physical therapists. What the client sees as effective participation, barriers, and facilitators might be different due to their particular context. This study was conducted to gain insight into the experiences of attaining an important outcome in a developing context.ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to explore the experiences of reclaiming participation in community-dwelling people with TSCI in South Africa.DesignThis was an explorative, qualitative study with inductive content analysis.MethodsIndividual semistructured interviews were conducted with 17 adults living with a TSCI in order to explore their experience of participation. The verbatim transcripts were analyzed, and the end result was an overall theme that included 4 emerging categories.ResultsThe theme “participation possibility” denotes the eventual involvement in life situations. Within this theme, there were 4 categories that emerged as a representation of essential aspects along the continuum of reclaiming participation: (1) dealing with the new self, (2) a journey dominated by obstacles, (3) the catalyst of participation, and (4) becoming an agent. Dealing with and recognizing these intervening conditions seem critical for clients to reconstruct the meaning that is necessary for a broader conception of participation.LimitationsThe transferability of these findings to dissimilar contexts may be limited.ConclusionClient perspectives on reclaiming participation after injury affirm the notion of eventual participation, with each person finding strategies to succeed. In order to help clients reclaim participation, health professionals should develop contextually sensitive programs that include peer mentoring and reduce the influence of hindering factors.

SEXUAL ACTIVITIES, CONCERNS AND INTERESTS OF WOMEN WITH SPINAL CORD INJURY LIVING IN THE COMMUNITY

1993 ◽  
Vol 72 (6) ◽  
pp. 372???378 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mary Joe White ◽  
Diana H. Rintala ◽  
Karen A. Hart ◽  
Marcus J. Fuhrer
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Spinal Cord Injury ◽  
Sexual Activities ◽  
Cord Injury

scholarly journals Beyond the Diagnosis: Lived Experiences of Persons with Spinal Cord Injury in a Selected Town in Ghana

2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abdul-Ganiyu Fuseini ◽  
Patience Aniteye ◽  
Afizu Alhassan
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Spinal Cord Injury ◽  
Teaching Hospital ◽  
Lived Experiences ◽  
Social Issues ◽  
Physical Symptoms ◽  
Published Data ◽  
Cord Injury ◽  
Tamale Metropolis ◽  
Tamale Teaching Hospital

Background. Although several studies have been conducted on the lived experiences of persons with spinal cord injury (SCI) in high income countries, there is no published data on such experiences in Ghana. The purpose of this study was to explore the lived experiences of persons with SCI in the Tamale Metropolis of the Northern Region of Ghana. Material and Methods. A qualitative descriptive design involving thirteen participants was conducted at the Tamale Metropolis-Ghana. A purposive sampling technique was used to recruit participants, using the Neurosurgical Unit of the Tamale Teaching Hospital as an outlet for recruitment of the sample. Data was gathered mainly through face-to-face in-depth interviews. The data was analyzed concurrently with data collection, using thematic content analysis. Ethical approval was obtained for the study from the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research and the research unit of the Tamale Teaching Hospital. Results. The three main themes that emerged from the data during analysis were “physical effects,” “psychological effects,” and “social issues.” Conclusion. The findings from the study suggest that SCI is a life threatening condition and that persons with SCI grapple with a myriad of physical symptoms that range from chronic pain and paralysis of lower and/or upper limbs, to bladder and bowel incontinence. These physical symptoms have significant psychological and social effects on the functioning of the affected persons.

Sexual activities, desire, and satisfaction in males pre- and post-spinal cord injury

1993 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 217-228 ◽  
Author(s):  
Craig J. Alexander ◽  
Marca L. Sipski ◽  
Thomas W. Findley
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Spinal Cord Injury ◽  
Sexual Activities ◽  
Cord Injury

Ethical Analysis of a Qualitative Researcher's Unease in Encountering a Participant's Existential Ambivalence

2016 ◽  
Vol 34 (1) ◽  
pp. 51-65 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marìa Elisa Moreno-Fergusson ◽  
Pamela J. Grace
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Qualitative Research ◽  
Spinal Cord Injury ◽  
Moral Reasoning ◽  
Ethical Analysis ◽  
Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury ◽  
Effective Interventions ◽  
Cord Injury ◽  
Sensitive Issues

Gaining in-depth understanding of the experiences of persons who have suffered traumatic events with physical and psychological sequelae is important for building effective interventions. However, qualitative research of this kind can be emotionally difficult for the researcher whose research interests derive from practice experiences with the population studied. It may be difficult for the researcher to separate the role of inquirer from that of practitioner. We explore this issue using ethical analysis to differentiate the responsibilities of the researcher from those of the clinician. In the first part of the chapter, we provide some background on the population studied and traumatic spinal cord injury and its aftermath as context for the issues raised by the narrative. Then, we describe briefly the first author's research exploring the meaning of bodily changes and embodiment in persons who have suffered a traumatic spinal cord injury. We provide the part of Jack's story that most troubled the researcher and led her to discuss the situation with an ethics colleague. Finally, we use the tools of moral reasoning, ethical analysis, and principles of research ethics to explore the pertinent excerpt of the narrative. The resulting clarifications are laid out for the reader with the intent of assisting other qualitative researchers in determining the extent and limits of their obligations to participants of qualitative studies, especially those that explore sensitive issues.

scholarly journals Evaluation of Sexual Function and Its Contributing Factors in Men With Spinal Cord Injury Using a Self-Administered Questionnaire

2014 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 24-31 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammad Khak ◽  
Marzieh Hassanijirdehi ◽  
Sohrab Afshari-Mirak ◽  
Kourosh Holakouie-Naieni ◽  
Soheil Saadat ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Spinal Cord Injury ◽  
Sexual Health ◽  
Sexual Activity ◽  
General Health ◽  
Recovery Of Function ◽  
General Health Questionnaire ◽  
Life Questionnaire ◽  
Cord Injury ◽  
Self Administered Questionnaire

Sexual activity is an important aspect of life in patients with spinal cord injury (SCI), rated as one of the top priorities for recovery of function. This study was conducted to establish an understanding of the severity of erectile dysfunction (ED), a major component of male sexual activity, and its correlates in patients with SCI in our community. In a cross-sectional study, 37 male veterans with SCI admitted for regular follow-up at our center were recruited. Demographic and SCI-related descriptive information was gathered through a self-administered questionnaire. Sexual Health Inventory for Men was used to assess the presence and severity of ED. Euro Quality of Life questionnaire and General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) were also administered. The mean age of the participants was 45.7 ± 6.5 years with injury duration of 24.7 ± 6.2 years. Mean GHQ-12 score of 3.65 ± 3.38 and mean Sexual Health Inventory for Men score of 11.57 ± 5.28 were measured. All participants had ED, and 27% were suffering from severe ED. Sleep deprivation, worse GHQ-12 score, and hypertension were significantly associated with higher risk of much severe ED ( p < .05). In conclusion, ED is a common problem in veterans with SCI and is inversely associated with their general health status.

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