﻿<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<ArticleSet>
  <Article>
    <Journal>
      <PublisherName>Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences</PublisherName>
      <JournalTitle>Epidemiology and Health System Journal</JournalTitle>
      <Issn>2980-7891</Issn>
      <Volume>13</Volume>
      <Issue>2</Issue>
      <PubDate PubStatus="ppublish">
        <Year>2026</Year>
        <Month>07</Month>
        <DAY>30</DAY>
      </PubDate>
    </Journal>
    <ArticleTitle>Relationship Between Sexual Health Literacy and Sexual Self-Efficacy Among Infertile Women: A Cross-Sectional Study at a Public Infertility Treatment Center in Gorgan, Iran, During 2025-2026</ArticleTitle>
    <FirstPage>91</FirstPage>
    <LastPage>97</LastPage>
    <ELocationID EIdType="doi">10.34172/ehsj.26714</ELocationID>
    <Language>EN</Language>
    <AuthorList>
      <Author>
        <FirstName>Zahra</FirstName>
        <LastName>Jahanshahi</LastName>
      </Author>
      <Author>
        <FirstName>Fatemeh</FirstName>
        <LastName>Seifi</LastName>
        <Identifier Source="ORCID">https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9698-8575</Identifier>
      </Author>
      <Author>
        <FirstName>Fatemeh</FirstName>
        <LastName>Mehravar</LastName>
        <Identifier Source="ORCID">https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4732-8519</Identifier>
      </Author>
      <Author>
        <FirstName>Elham</FirstName>
        <LastName>Adib Moghaddam</LastName>
        <Identifier Source="ORCID">https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9213-250X</Identifier>
      </Author>
    </AuthorList>
    <PublicationType>Journal Article</PublicationType>
    <ArticleIdList>
      <ArticleId IdType="doi">10.34172/ehsj.26714</ArticleId>
    </ArticleIdList>
    <History>
      <PubDate PubStatus="received">
        <Year>2026</Year>
        <Month>05</Month>
        <Day>10</Day>
      </PubDate>
      <PubDate PubStatus="accepted">
        <Year>2026</Year>
        <Month>07</Month>
        <Day>01</Day>
      </PubDate>
    </History>
    <Abstract>Introduction: Infertility can adversely affect sexual quality of life and compromise treatment outcomes. This study was conducted to investigate the relationship between sexual health literacy and sexual self-efficacy among infertile women attending a public infertility treatment center.  Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted from May 2025 to January 2026 at the largest public infertility referral center in Gorgan, Iran. A convenience sampling method was used to recruit 186 infertile women. Data were collected using a demographic and clinical information form, the Sexual Health Literacy Questionnaire (SHLQ), and the Sexual Self-Efficacy Questionnaire (SSEQ). Statistical analysis was performed using descriptive statistics, Pearson’s correlation coefficient, and Chi-square test via SPSS version 26, with the significance level set at P &lt; 0.05.  Results: The mean total score of sexual health literacy was 69.56 ± 23.35, indicating an adequate literacy level. The mean sexual self-efficacy score was 18.79 ± 7.60, falling within the moderate range. A strong, positive, and statistically significant correlation was found between total sexual health literacy and sexual self-efficacy (r = 0.643, P &lt; 0.001). This significant positive correlation was also consistently observed across all individual dimensions of the sexual health literacy questionnaire and sexual self-efficacy (r range = 0.643-0.740, P &lt; 0.001).  Conclusion: This study identified a strong positive correlation between sexual health literacy and sexual self-efficacy among infertile women. Higher levels of sexual health literacy were associated with greater sexual self-efficacy. Future longitudinal and interventional studies are warranted to explore whether targeted educational interventions may enhance sexual self-efficacy and overall sexual well-being in this population.  </Abstract>
    <ObjectList>
      <Object Type="keyword">
        <Param Name="value">Health literacy</Param>
      </Object>
      <Object Type="keyword">
        <Param Name="value">Sexual health</Param>
      </Object>
      <Object Type="keyword">
        <Param Name="value">Self-efficacy</Param>
      </Object>
      <Object Type="keyword">
        <Param Name="value">Infertility</Param>
      </Object>
      <Object Type="keyword">
        <Param Name="value">Female</Param>
      </Object>
    </ObjectList>
  </Article>
</ArticleSet>