Effect of counselling based on the PLISSIT model on pregnant women’s sexual satisfaction: a randomised controlled trial

Background
Sexual satisfaction is often reduced during pregnancy owing to some sexual problems. Sexual counselling offered for pregnant women may reduce the complications of this disorder during pregnancy.

Objectives
This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of PLISSIT (permission, limited information, specific suggestions, and intensive therapy) model-based sexual counselling on pregnant women’s sexual satisfaction.

Materials and methods
In this randomised controlled clinical trial, the effect of PLISSIT model-based counselling on the sexual satisfaction of 80 pregnant women referred to health centres in the city of Malayer was investigated. The pregnant women were randomly assigned to intervention and control groups. The intervention group received counselling in 4 sessions of 45–90 minutes, and the control group received no counselling. Data collection tools were made up of demographic and Linda Berg questionnaires. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS-22 software, and a p-value lower than 0.05 was considered significant. The results were compared with repeated measurement, the independent t-test and chi-square test.

Results
Based on the results, the mean age of the mothers in the intervention and control groups was 26.32 ± 3.92 and 27.10 ± 4.77, respectively. There was a significant difference between the mean score of sexual satisfaction in both the intervention (64.50 ± 7.19) and control (58.90 ± 11.92) groups 2 weeks after the intervention, as well as 4 weeks after the intervention in both the intervention (69.65 ± 5.51) and control (60.05 ± 13.96) groups, respectively.

Conclusions
Sexual satisfaction in pregnancy can be enhanced by providing PLISSIT-based sexual counselling.