Group Couples' Intervention to Improve Sexual Health Among Married Women in a Low-Income Community in Mumbai, India

J Marital Fam Ther. 2018 Jan;44(1):73-89. doi: 10.1111/jmft.12248. Epub 2017 Jul 6.

Abstract

This article describes the design and implementation of a group couples' intervention focused on improving women's sexual health as a component of a multilevel community, clinical, and counseling intervention project conducted in association with a gynecological service in a municipal urban health center in a low-income community in Mumbai, India. The group couples' intervention involved four single-gender and two mixed-gender sessions designed to address the dynamics of the marital relationship and establish a more equitable spousal relationship as a means to improve women's sexual and marital health. Involvement of men presented a major challenge to couple's participation. For those couples that did participate, qualitative findings revealed significant changes in couple and family relations, sexual health knowledge, and emotional well-being.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Female
  • Humans
  • India
  • Interpersonal Relations*
  • Male
  • Marital Therapy / methods*
  • Poverty*
  • Psychotherapy, Group / methods*
  • Sexual Health*
  • Spouses / psychology*
  • Young Adult