Sexual health-seeking behaviour and associated factors in men with diabetes mellitus attending the northwest Amhara region hospitals, Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Objective: To assess the sexual health-seeking behaviour and identify the associated factors in men with diabetes mellitus attending in the northwest Amhara region hospitals, Ethiopia.

Design: Hopital-based cross-sectional study.

Setting: The study was conducted in the northwest Amhara region hospitals between 20 February and 30 April 2020.

Participants: A total of 389 men with diabetes were approached using a systematic random sampling technique. A face-to-face interviewer-administered questionnaire was used. The binary logistic regression was employed to identify factors contributing to sexual health-seeking behaviour. Odds Ratio with its corresponding 95% CI was used to measure the association. Factors with a p value ≤0.05 in multivariable logistic regression were deemed as significant factors.

Outcome measures: Participants were interviewed to respond whether they had sought sexual health service since they were notified to have diabetes mellitus.

Results: A quarter of men with diabetes (25%; 23.4%-27.6%) has sought sexual health service since they were diagnosed with diabetes mellitus. The odds of seeking sexual health service was reduced by 67% in participants who were not able to read and write (adjusted odds ratio (AOR)=0.33; 0.1-0.87) and 71% in participants who have attended primary/secondary education (AOR=0.29; 0.1-0.67) than those who have a diploma and above. Experiencing sexual dysfunction was also significantly associated with an increased odds of seeking sexual health service (AOR=7.1; 2.1-23).

Conclusions: The study remarks that just one-fourth of men with diabetes had sought sexual health services. Participants with lower educational status are less likely to seek sexual health services. Patients who have experienced sexual dysfunction sought the service well compared with their counterparts. Therefore, special emphasis should be given to men with lower educational status. Similarly, counselling patients to seek sexual health service before experiencing sexual dysfunction would help to improve sexual health-seeking behaviour.

Keywords: diabetes & endocrinology; reproductive medicine; sexual medicine.