SATISFACTION WITH BODY IMAGE AND PRACTICE OF SEX IN THE ELDERLY

Report of a study that is part of a dissertation cut, objective correlate sexuality with body image self-perceived by the elderly. Research from the Open University seniors, Federal University of Pernambuco in 2012. Data were collected between May and June 2012. Its dependent variable: sex practice and independent variable: age, sex, years of study situation marital and self-perceived body image, the latter assessed by questionnaire silhouette Stunkard, Sorensen and Sunkard. It was approved by UFPE Ethics Committee with approval CAAE No 01651112.5.0000.5208. Attended 235 elderly, of these 95.3% were female, with regard to marital status, most were single 36.6% followed by 34% married. Of the total, 51.5% reported thinking about sex spontaneously, although the aspect of sexual desire, 71.1% reported indifference, 20% sought to have sexual intercourse with your partner, performed autoerotização 6.8 and 2.1 did not respond. Sexual activity was present in 32.3% of respondents and autoerotização by 23%. As the satisfaction with body image, 41.3 are satisfied, 51.9 dissatisfied with excess body fat and 6.8 dissatisfied with body thinness. We conclude that several factors interfere with the exercise of sexuality of the elderly, which should be considered in promoting sexual education of their elders, with the strategy, health education, basic tool in the health professional, especially those that work in Primary Care.