Women's sexual and reproductive health care needs assessment:an Iranian perspective

Background: Reproductive health problems are a leading cause of women's ill health and mortality worldwide. There is a need to investigate sexual and reproductive health care needs in different societies and cultural contexts. Despite the success in health care promotion in the Iranian health care system, women still need to receive sexual health care and appropriate HIV/AIDS services. However, studies on the sexual and reproductive health care needs of Iranian women are lacking. Aims: This study aimed to investigate the sexual and reproductive health care needs of women referred to health care centres in an urban area of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Methods: We carried out a cross-sectional study in 2013 on 514 women living in an urban area in the north of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Taking into consideration ethical principles, data were collected using the Sexual and Reproductive Health Care Needs Assessment Questionnaire. Results: The findings showed a greater need for the provision of care by practitioners in the sexual history and activities domain (73%) compared with other domains. Also, the woman's age and the location where she sought treatment and care for sexually transmitted infections were predictors of sexual activities needs. Conclusions: Owing to the high prevalence of women's referral to health care centres seeking treatment of sexual disorders, there is a need for the provision of sexual counseling centres and services promoting women's reproductive health care.