The Effect of the Practical Intimate Relationship Skills Training (PAIRS) on marital satisfaction and adjustment and sexual function of women living with HIV: a randomized controlled trial

Abstract Background : Considering the role of marital satisfaction and adjustment in family functioning, that can be influenced by specific diseases such as HIV / AIDS, this study was conducted to determine the effect of the Practical Intimate Relationship Skills Training (PAIRS) on marital satisfaction and adjustment and sexual function in women living with HIV (WLHA). Methods : In a randomized controlled trial 44 WLHA, referred to behavioral disease counseling clinic at Imam Khomeini Hospital, Tehran, Iran, 2019, were randomly divided into intervention and control groups based on four randomized blocks. Eight sessions of educational counseling were provided once a week for both group. At the beginning, at the end and four weeks after the training the Enrich marital satisfaction questionnaire, Spinner marital adjustment and Rosen sexual function questionnaires were completed and analyzed with SPSS-21 software. Results : This study showed no significant difference between total score of marital satisfaction, marital adjustment and sexual function before the intervention. Rate of marital satisfaction (P = 0.003), marital adjustment (P = 0.03) and female sexual function (p <0.001) were significantly increased in the intervention group immediately and one month after the intervention. The results also indicated that 77.9% of the changes in post-test scores of marital satisfaction, 76% of marital adjustment and 94.9% of sexual function were related to the intervention effect, demonstrating a sustainable effect of educational intervention (< 0.001). Conclusion : PAIRS can improve marital satisfaction and adjustment, and sexual function in WLHA, and affect quality of family function. Trial registration : Keywords : Marital Satisfaction, Marital Adjustment, Sexual Function, Practical Application of Intimate Relationship Skills; PAIRS