Early Resumption of Sexual Intercourse and Its Associated Factors Among Postpartum Women in Western Ethiopia: A Cross-Sectional Study

Figures & data

Table 1 Socio-Demographic Characteristics of the Postpartum Women Who Visited Public Health Institutions in Nekemte Town, Western Ethiopia, 2019 (n=509)

Variable	Frequency	Percent (%)
Age of Mother (years)
15–24	216	42.4
25–34	272	53.4
≥35	21	4.2
Marital Status
Single	23	4.5
Married	472	92.7
Other*	14	2.8
Ethnicity
Oromo	453	89.0
Amara	31	6.1
Other**	25	4.9
Religion
Protestant	345	67.8
Orthodox	117	23
Catholic	19	3.7
Muslim	28	5.5
Educational Level
No formal education	49	9.6
Elementary (1–8)	121	23.8
Secondary (9–12)	174	34.2
College and above	165	32.4
Occupation of Mother
Housewife	244	58.5
Private work	55	10.8
Government employee	104	20.4
Merchant	23	4.5
Student	29	5.7
Partner’s Educational Status
No formal education	25	4.9
Elementary (1–8)	80	15.7
Secondary (9–12)	153	30.1
College and above	214	42.0
Wealth Index
Rich	67	13.2
Middle	197	38.7
Poor	245	48.1
Partner’s Occupation
Private	242	51.3
Farmer	19	4
Government employee	183	38.8
Other***	28	5.9
Residence
Urban	485	95.3
Rural	24	4.7
Age of Husband (years)
21–30	299	63.3
31–40	150	31.8
41–50	23	4.9

Notes: *Divorced, widowed; **Tigiraway, Gurage; ***Daily laborer.

Table 2 Obstetric and Reproductive Characteristics of Postpartum Women Who Visited Public Health Institutions in Nekemte Town, Western Ethiopia, 2019 (n=509)

Variable		Frequency	Percent (%)
Mode of Delivery	Spontaneous vaginal delivery	200	39.3
	Normal vaginal delivery with tear/episiotomy	235	46.16
	Cesarean section	74	14.54
Sex of Baby	Male	296	58.2
	Female	213	41.8
Want to Have Another Child	Yes	415	81.5
	No	94	18.5
Cohabitated with the Father of the Child	No	63	12.4
	Yes	446	87.6
Exclusive Breastfeeding	No	140	27.5
	Yes	369	72.5
Using Family Planning	No	285	56.0
	Yes	224	44.0
Family Planning Method Used	Pills	42	8.3
	Depo	97	19.1
	IUCD	12	2.4
	Implant	71	13.9
	Tubal ligation/vasectomy	2	0.4
Menses Returned	No	312	61.3
	Yes	197	38.7
Any Form of Incontinence	No	475	93.3
	Yes	34	6.7
Type of Incontinence	Urine	33	6.5
	Flatus	1	0.2
Parity	1	190	37.33
	2	136	26.72
	3–4	131	25.74
	≥5	52	10.21

Abbreviation: IUCD, intrauterine contraceptive device.

Table 3 Sexual Resumption of Postpartum Women Who Visited Public Health Institutions in Nekemte Town, Western Ethiopia, 2019

Variable		Frequency	Percent (%)
Resumed Sexual Intercourse	No	180	35.4
	Yes	329	64.6
Time of Resumption	After 6 weeks	226	44.4
	Before 6 weeks	103	20.2
Experienced Pressure to Resume	No	431	84.7
	Yes	78	15.3
Received Advice/Information on Postpartum Coitus	No	423	83.1
	Yes	86	16.9

Figure 1 Sexual problems experienced among women who resumed sexual intercourse early.

Figure 2 Postpartum resumption of sexual intercourse and contraceptive use.

Figure 3 Reasons for non-resumption of postpartum sexual intercourse.

Table 4 Bivariable and Multivariable Analysis for Early Resumption of Sexual Intercourse Among Postpartum Women Who Visited Public Health Facilities in Nekemte Town, Western Ethiopia, 2019

Variable		Early Resumption		COR (95% CI)	AOR (95% CI)
		No Yes
Age of Mother (years)	15–24	168	48	0.75 (0.32–1.75)
	25–34	218	54	0.38 (0.16–0.89)
	≥35	20	1	1.00
Religion	Protestant	282	63	0.56 (0.24–1.33)	0.38 (0.13–1.12)
	Orthodox	93	24	0.65 (0.25–1.64)	0.67 (0.21–2.18)
	Catholic	11	8	1.82 (0.53–6.19)	1.99 (0.38–10.32)
	Muslim	20	8	1.00	1.00
Mother’s Educational Status	No formal education	37	12	1.00	1.00
	Elementary (1–8)	91	30	1.02 (0.4–2.20)	0.92 (0.31–2.73)
	Secondary (9–12)	148	26	0.54 (0.25–1.17)	0.22 (0.07–0.71)*
	College and above	130	35	0.83 (0.39–1.76)	0.35 (0.01–1.24)
Occupation of Mother	Housewife	244	54	1.00
	Private work	43	12	1.26 (0.62–2.55)
	Government employee	85	19	1.01 (0.57–1.8)
	Merchant	16	7	1.98 (0.78–5.04)
	Student	18	11	2.76 (1.23–6.18)
Wealth Index	Poor	203	42	0.42 (0.23–0.78)
	Middle	158	39	0.51 (0.27–0.94)
	Rich	45	22	1.00
Parity of Mother	1	131	59	1.89 (0.89–4.03)	3.52 (1.24–10.01)*
	2	117	19	0.68 (0.29–1.59)	0.59 (0.19–1.79)
	3–4	116	15	0.54 (0.23–1.30)	0.72 (0.24–2.21)
	≥5	42	10	1.00	1.00
Husband’s Educational Status	No formal education	16	9	1.00	1.00
	Elementary (1–8)	66	14	0.38 (0.14–1.03)	0.23 (0.06–0.87)*
	Secondary (9–12)	126	27	0.38 (0.15–0.95)	0.25 (0.07–0.88)*
	College and above	167	47	0.5 (0.21–1.20)	0.66 (0.18–2.45)
Age of Spouse (years)	21–30	230	69	0.56 (0.23–1.38)
	31–40	131	19	0.27 (0.10-0.73)
	41–50	15	8	1.00
Mode of Delivery	Normal vaginal delivery	139	61	4.97 (2.1–12.08)	5.44 (1.84–16.12)*
	Vaginal delivery with tear/episiotomy	199	36	2.05 (0.83–5.08)	1.66 (0.56–4.93)
	Cesarean section	68	6	1.00	1.00
Sex of Baby	Male	221	75	2.24 (1.39–3.61)	1.94 (1.05–3.60)*
	Female	185	28	1.00	1.00
Want to Have Another Child	No	88	6	1.00	1.00
	Yes	318	97	4.47 (1.9−10.55)	5.71 (1.89–17.25)*
Pressure from Husband	No	376	55	1.00	1.00
	Yes	30	48	10.94 (6.41–8.71)	9.89 (4.99–19.58)**

Notes: *p<0.05, **p<0.001.