Revista de SIDA e investigación clínica

Sexual Dysfunction in HIV-Positive Women Attending a Tertiary Health Facility in North Central Nigeria

Abstract

Ayo Oyedokun, Loius Okeibunor Odeigah, Kola Moradeyo Alabi, Olushola Abejide Adegunloye and Henry Chukwuma Akujobi

Introduction: Sexual dysfunction in HIV positive women is highly prevalent and it is often associated with
psychosocial distress. Not much scientific attention has been dedicated to this important aspect of the life of the HIVpositive woman especially in Nigeria and in the West African sub region at large, where issues pertaining to sexuality are hardly ever discussed even in routine clinic visits due to cultural restrictions.
Objectives: To determine the prevalence, psychological status, and socio demographic/clinical factors
associated with sexual dysfunction in HIV-positive women.
Methods: This was a hospital based cross-sectional study conducted over six months. Data were collected from 370 respondents using a structured questionnaire. The General Health Questionnaire (GHQ12) was used to assess their psychological status while the modified Female Sexual Function Index Questionnaire (FSFI) was used to assess female sexual dysfunction. Questionnaire was interviewer administered by and the data was analysed using Epi-info 2011 package.
Results: It showed that the prevalence of Sexual Dysfunction in HIV positive women was sixty one (61%). Thirty five (35%) of the respondents had significant psychological distress. The presence of psychological distress was significantly associated with Female Sexual Dysfunction (FSD). There was no association between FSD and religion, ethnicity, duration of marriage or presence of other chronic diseases. Increasing age, multiple sex partners, non-disclosure of HIV status, stigma, on-going stressful event, being underweight or obese were significantly associated with FSD. High level of education, being married, monogamy, WHO clinical stage I disease and higher CD4 count were associated with better sexual functioning.
Conclusion: This study brings to the fore the need for physicians and healthcare workers who render
comprehensive care as frontline doctors to acquire skills that is needed to attend to and alleviate the sexual problems of women in an African setting.