Sexuality in old age: Knowledge/attitude of nurses of family health strategy

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the knowledge and attitudes of Family Health Strategy nurses regarding sexuality in old age. Method: Cross-sectional, exploratory, descriptive, quantitative study with nurses of the Family Health Strategy of the city of Sobral-CE. The instruments used were a socio-demographic and professional questionnaire and the Aging Sexual Knowledge and Attitudes Scale, Brazilian version. Data were processed in GraphPad Prism 5®, and the significance level was set at p<0.05. Results: The participants were 56 nurses, most of them female, young adults, who reported they were able to provide orientations about sexuality. The mean score in the knowledge dimension was 29.95 (SD=2.21), in a range of 20 to 60; the mean score in the attitude dimension was 27.14 (SD=2.19), in a range of eight to 40. Participants who declared receiving permanent health education and conducting health education on sexuality presented a significantly favorable knowledge, but no statistically significant attitude. Conclusion: Nurses have adequate knowledge about sexuality in old age, but still present conservative attitudes. Investing in processes of continuing health education can improve the knowledge and practice of nurses.