Research on Cognition and Training Needs of Sex Education during Pregnancy among Obstetricians and Obstetric Nurses in Guangdong Province Based on Mixed Research Perspective

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to understand the current status and existing responses of obstetricians and obstetric nurses in Guangdong Province regarding sex education during pregnancy and to understand their acceptance of sex education during pregnancy and the knowledge and information they would like to obtain in sex education courses. METHODS: A phenomenological research method was used to conduct in-depth interviews with 12 obstetricians and obstetric nurses in a tertiary hospital in Guangdong Province to understand their perceptions and attitudes toward providing sex education to pregnant women. A self-designed questionnaire was used to survey 462 obstetricians and obstetric nurses in Guangdong Province to understand their needs for sex education. RESULTS: Three themes were summarized: insufficient awareness of sex education during pregnancy; negative attitudes of obstetricians and obstetric nurses toward sex education during pregnancy; and the need for a long-term process for the development and popularization of sex education during pregnancy. We obtained the required scores of obstetricians and obstetric nurses on 11 aspects of sex education during pregnancy with a coefficient of variation ≤25%. CONCLUSION: There is an urgent need to improve the awareness and related competencies of obstetricians and obstetric nurses about sex education during pregnancy, and the purpose and content of sex education courses should be in line with the clinical reality.