• Edith Namulema, Sarah Nakubulwa, and Lubega Muhamadi.
• Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Mengo Hospital, P.O. Box 7161, Kampala, Uganda.
• Afr Health Sci. 2023 Dec 1; 23 (4): 415424415-424.

BackgroundEarly resumption of sexual intercourse in the puerperium is a concern for couples because it is often not discussed during pre-natal or postpartum care.ObjectiveThis cross-sectional survey aimed to establish the current burden and factors associated with the early resumption of sexual intercourse within the puerperium at the National Referral Hospital and Mengo Hospital.MethodsWe conducted a descriptive cross-sectional study among 445 parous women attending the six-week postpartum review and the young child clinic at Kawempe National Referral and Mengo Hospitals between March and May 2021.ResultsThe prevalence of ERSP within the puerperium was 39%. This study's earliest time to resume sexual intercourse was one week; the majority had resumed by week four (9.2%). Factors associated with the early resumption of sexual relations were the person's tribe, going to the husband's home after birth, and parity. The prevalence of sexual morbidities was 13%. Seventy-five (75%) of mothers did not receive information from the health care workers on when they can resume sex following childbirth.ConclusionPuerperal sexual intercourse is still prevalent in Uganda. Interventions to reduce the resumption of sexual intercourse in the puerperium should focus on these determinants to delay puerperal sexual intercourse.© 2023 Namulema E et al.

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