Sexual Dysfunction and Associated Factors among Women with Diabetes Mellitus Attending on Chronic Follow-up in Diabetic Clinic at University of Gondar Specialized Hospital.

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus causes a wide range of clinical, psychological, behavioral, and sexual issues in women. Sexual dysfunction is a common complication of diabetes that adversely affects the quality of life. Those issues lead to a significant negative impact on one's quality of life, marital relationships, and treatment outcomes. Because the issue has received little attention in Ethiopia, the goal of this study was to determine the prevalence and factors associated with sexual dysfunction in women with diabetes mellitus. A facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted from a planned sample of 423 involving 395 (93.4%) diabetic female patients at the University of Gondar Comprehensive Specialized Referral Hospital in the northwest Amhara region. A systematic sampling technique was employed. A face-to-face interviewer-administered questionnaire and a review of the patient's medical records were used to collect data. The Female Sexual Functioning Index Questionnaire—19 items (FSFIQ—19)—was used to measure the sexual functioning of women from July 27 to September 5, 2022. A binary logistic regression was employed, and a multivariable logistic regression model was used to control the effect of confounders. Based on a p-value ≤0.05, variables that had an independent correlation with sexual dysfunction were identified. Likewise, the direction and strength of association were interpreted using the adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with its corresponding 95% CI. The prevalence of women's sexual dysfunction was 54.7% (95% CI: 50.1–59.5). Age of the respondent greater than 31 years (AOR = 2.13; 95% CI: [1.14–4.04]), females with diabetes for more than or equal to five years (AOR = 4.68; 95% CI: 1.40–9.69), type 2 diabetes mellitus (AOR = 2.39; 95% CI: 1.62-4.36), depression (AOR = 2.24; 95% CI: 1.17–4.30), and ever using alcohol (AOR = 2.65; 95% CI: 1.64) were significantly associated with sexual dysfunction. From the total domain of the female sexual function index, sexual desire had the highest prevalence (57.7%), and arousal was the second highest prevalence (53.9%). Therefore, pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions to treat sexual dysfunction in women, as well as psychological support for women with diabetes who experience sexual dysfunction, can be integrated into a diabetes service. However, healthcare providers and psychologists must pay special attention and raise awareness in order to provide specialized diagnostic approaches and treatment for cases of sexual dysfunction.