Understanding sexuality by rural elderly women

Abstract

Objective: to understand the meaning of sexuality by rural elderly women. Method: a qualitative exploratory and descriptive research, carried out through interview at the home with 26 rural elderly women, aged between 60 and 69 years. The data were analyzed by the thematic content analysis technique of Bardin. Results: understanding sexuality is linked to the construction of sexual and/or loving relationship, and positive and negative factors that interfere with the exercise of sexuality: good relationship with the spouse, physical and mental benefits, chronological age, health problems, no spouse, sexual disinterest and fear of relating for fear or disappointment. Final considerations: there is a decline in the maintenance of sexuality linked to the end of the reproductive period, to the advancing age and the low social perspective that is common for rural elderly women.