The prevalence and factors associated with sexual dysfunction in diabetic females attending Mulago National Referral Hospital Diabetic Clinic

Abstract

ABSTRACT Background: Globally an estimated 422 million adults were living with Diabetes Mellitus in 2014 and of those 14.2 million (9.5-%) are from the African region. This number is expected to rise to about 642 million or 1 adult in 10 by 2040. Diabetes comes with all its complications including sexual dysfunction, a topic that is understudied worldwide and worse in women. Little data is available on the prevalence of female sexual dysfunction and it may range between 21% -78 % according to the studies done. Objectives: To determine the prevalence and factors associated with sexual dysfunction in diabetic females attending Mulago National referral Diabetic Clinic. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study of 209 diabetic females. The subjects had been sexually active for at least a year and were aged 18 years or more. Demographic and clinical characteristics were collected. Sexual function was assessed using the Female Sexual Function Index by a female interviewer. RESULTS; 209 patients were enrolled and their mean age was 42.5(SD±9) years while the mean duration of diabetes was 83.4 months. The prevalence of female sexual dysfunction was 67.9% and sexual dysfunction was found to be significantly associated with the duration of diabetes mellitus (AOR=1.95(1.06-3.56),p-value=0.030) and having menses (AOR=0.492(0.25-0.97), p-value=0.04). No association was observed between sexual dysfunction and the other factors age, menopause, BMI, HbA1c, contraceptives and alcohol. Conclusion; Sexual dysfunction is highly prevalent among female patients with Diabetes Mellitus attending the Mulago National Referral Hospital Diabetic clinic. Long duration of diabetes and having menses are significantly associated with female sexual dysfunction. Recommendations; 1) Patients with longer duration of diabetes should be screened for sexual dysfunction. 2) Education and counseling to prevent this complication should be emphasized. 3) Attention to female sexual dysfunction should be part of diabetes care in females.