PREVALENCE AND FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH SEXUAL DYSFUNCTION

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Sexual dysfunction is difficulty experienced by an individual or couple during any stage of normal sexual activity including physical pleasure, desire, preference, arousal or orgasm. Sexual dysfunction has been associated with diabetes mellitus in both males and females and it affects overall quality of life, physical and emotional health thus deserves attention in reproductive and family health. Aim: The aim of this study was to ascertain the prevalence and factors associated with sexual dysfunction in persons with type 2 diabetes attending University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional descriptive study that was conducted on both male and female participants with type 2 diabetes mellitus attending the diabetes clinic of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital. The study population comprised 420 (252 females and 168 males) who met the inclusion criteria and systematic random sampling of 1 in 5 consecutive males and females was used. A researcher administered questionnaire was used to obtain relevant information while the International Index Erectile Function questionnaire (IIEF5) was used to assess for male sexual dysfunction and the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) questionnaire used to assess for female sexual dysfunction. Data obtained was analyzed with IBM Statistical Package for Social sciences (SPSS) version 22. A p-value of 0.05 was taken as statistically significant. Results: The age range of the study participants was 30-75years with the mean age being 54.3±9. The overall prevalence of sexual dysfunction in this study was 80.2% while 134 (79.8%) males and 203 (80.6%) females had sexual dysfunction. Increasing age (p = 0.001, OR = 2.012), poor glycaemic control (p = 0.005. OR=10.845), elevated cholesterol (p = 0.001, OR = 2.289) hypertension (p=0.02) and being overweight significantly predicted sexual dysfunction (p <0.001 OR 2.14) among the study participants. Severe sexual dysfunction was the commonest xiii grade of severity among female respondents while mild to moderate severity was the commonest grade among the males. Conclusion: sexual dysfunction is a major reproductive health issue with a high prevalence among persons with diabetes. Severe sexual dysfunction was the commonest grade among females while mild to moderate severity was the commonest grade in males. Individualized optimal glycaemic targets should be aimed at by the managing health professional for persons with diabetes to delay the onset of diabetes related complications. Also prompt treatment including psychosexual counseling should be offered persons with sexual dysfunction by psychologist in the diabetes care team.