The Effect of Sex Education and Counseling Based on the Ex-PLISSIT Model on Sexual Life in Primigravidas

Objective: This study was conducted to determine the effect of sexual education and counseling based on the Ex-PLISSIT model on sexual function, attitudes towards sexuality during pregnancy, sexual distress, and quality of sexual life in primigravidas. Methods: This study was carried out on 62 primigravidas in a pretest posttest, a quasi-experimental control group. Primigravidas meeting the inclusion criteria were assigned to the groups by simple random sampling method. The intervention group received training and counseling sessions twice. The control group received routine care during the follow-up period. The results were compared with the evaluation forms 10 weeks after each training and counseling session. The forms were administered to the control group at the same time as the intervention group. Results: The mean scores of the intervention and control groups’ attitude towards sexuality during pregnancy in the second test (95%CI=2.33-19.01; d=0.65, p=.013) and in the posttest (95%CI=2.28-19.34; d=0.64, p=.015) were statistically significantly different. Sexual life quality scale mean scores of the intervention and control groups were statistically significant in the second test (95%CI=8.27-18.54; d=1.33, p=.000) and the posttest (95%CI=12.14-22.01; d=1.76, p=.000) level was different. In addition, the mean scores of the intervention group were higher after sexual education and counseling based on the Ex-PLISSIT model. Conclusion: In this study, sexual education and counseling based on the Ex-PLISSIT model positively affected primigravida’s attitudes towards sexuality and their quality of sexual life. Therefore, this model can be used as a cost-effective and simple counseling method to improve the sexual life.