Self-care of sexual health in people with vulva who have sexual practices with other people with vulva, city of Rosario (Santa Fe), year 2023

Introduction: Self-care refers to the set of actions that a person performs with their body and their environment, in order to regulate internal or external factors that are perceived to be related to one's own health. Objective: To learn about sexual health self-care in people with vulva who have sexual practices with other people with vulva in the city of Rosario during the year 2023. Materials and Methods: Quantitative, observational, descriptive, cross-sectional and retrospective study. Duration of the study was 6 months, in the city of Rosario. The study population consisted of women who had had sex with other women, over 18 years of age, regardless of their sexual orientation and who went to the squares and parks of the city of Rosario during the study period. A 30-item instrument was applied. The data were analyzed with SPSS software. Results: 89% were cis females with a mean age of 30.94 ± 8.18 years (min.18; max. 57). Forty-two percent identified as heterosexual and 30% as lesbian. In the romantic relationship 29% (n=51) were in a monogamous relationship, 25% in an open relationship, 21% without an affective relationship but with sexual partner(s), 15% in a polyamorous relationship and 9% without an affective relationship, nor sexual partner(s). Of these, 84% had sexual relations exclusively with persons with vulva and 16% exclusively with persons with a penis. Ninety-seven percent had had sexual intercourse, and the mean age of sexual intercourse was 16.77 ± 2.77 years. Sixty-two percent reported the use of sex toys, 70% have practiced tribadism and 66% have practiced oral sex. 65% referred to have never used STI preventive methods in such practices, 34% sometimes use them and 1% always use preventive methods. Conclusions: The study found that the average age of sexual debut was 16 years, the population was sexually active with use of sex toys, oral sex and tribadism. It was observed that the population studied does not make adequate use of condoms during sexual intercourse as a method of protection against sexually transmitted diseases, based on the lack of information about these diseases by health care providers.