How a woman’s sexual adjustment after sustaining a spinal cord injury impacts sexual health interventions.

This qualitative study describes the female experience of sexual adjustment after spinal cord injury (SCI) in relation to the need for sexual health intervention. Ten women with SCI were interviewed using a predetermined, semistructured set of questions. Audiotaping and field notes were utilized to gather data. The investigators used consensus validation to complete data analysis, and all research findings were reviewed by the study participants for validation. Clinical findings indicated that there were a series of phases that women go through in sexual adjustment that affect when and how interventions were effective in meeting their sexual health needs. Women also identified the use of peers and support groups as essential adjuncts to professional intervention.