Sexuality of the Elderly: territorial exploration and importance for Primary Health Care in Chile

Background: population aging affects the life course of people and their sexuality, which is related to quality of life and sexual satisfaction. The research aims to explore the relevant dimensions of sexuality in older people who participate in territorial organizations related to Primary Health Care in Chile, which allows finding content and deep representations associated with sexual experiences. Methods: for this purpose, 10 focus groups were carried out with people aged 60 years and over, composed of women, men and mixed groups. Results: the results identified 10 dimensions and 42 sub-dimensions related to the sexuality of the elderly and corroborated the importance that this has in the interviewees according to their social contexts. There is a multifactoriality associated with the sexuality of the elderly related to cultural, economic, social, family, psychoemotional, care, rights and gender perspective components, among others. Conclusions: it is concluded that sexuality is an important issue in this life cycle, that they have limitations for a full experience, that it is a human right subject to social discrimination, with restrictions in the assistance and that they are in search of improving sexuality as part of changes in the quality of life.