title: Incidence of sexual dysfunction: a prospective survey in Ghanaian females.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Sexuality is a complex phenomenon that is being influenced by psychological as well as physiological factors. Its dysfunction includes desire, arousal, orgasmic and sex pain disorders. The present study aimed to assess the incidence of sexual dysfunction (SD) and related risk factors in a cohort of Ghanaian women.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Golombok Rust Inventory of Sexual Satisfaction (GRISS) was administered to 400 healthy women between 18 and 58 years old (mean +/- SD: 30.1 +/- 7.9) domiciled in the Kumasi metropolis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The response rate was 75.3% after 99 were excluded. Of the remaining 301 women, 50% were engaged in exercise, 26.7% indulge in alcoholic beverages and only 2% were smokers. A total of 62.1% of the women had attained high education, whilst, 28.9% were married. After logistic regression analysis, alcohol emerged (OR: 2.0; CI: 1.0 - 3.8; p = 0.04) as the main risk factor for SD. The overall prevalence of SD in these subjects was 72.8%. Severe difficulties with sexual function were identified in 3.3% of the studied population. The most prevalent areas of difficulty were anorgasmia (72.4%), sexual infrequency (71.4%), dissatisfaction (77.7%), vaginismus (68.1%), avoidance of sexual intercourse (62.5%), non-sensuality (61.5%) and non-communication (54.2%). Whereas 8% had severe difficulties with anorgasmia, only 6% had severe difficulties with vaginismus.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  SD affects more than 70% of Ghanaian women who are sexually active. Alcohol significantly influences sexual activity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana. nafamidu@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Nafiu
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Amidu
authors.forename: William K B A
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: Owiredu
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Woode
authors.forename: Otchere
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Addai-Mensah
authors.forename: Lawrence
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Quaye
authors.forename: Abass
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alhassan
authors.forename: Edmond A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Tagoe
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000453:epidemiology; D003625:Data Collection; D005260:Female; D005869:Ghana / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008875:Middle Aged; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D012307:Risk Factors; D012735:Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D020018:Sexual Dysfunctions, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D016387:Women's Health; D055815:Young Adult
references.citation: Adv Alcohol Subst Abuse. 1984 Fall;4(1):41-56
references.pmid: 6516941
references.citation: Arch Sex Behav. 2004 Dec;33(6):527-38
references.pmid: 15483367
references.citation: N Engl J Med. 1978 Jul 20;299(3):111-5
references.pmid: 661870
references.citation: Annu Rev Sex Res. 2000;11:92-124
references.pmid: 11351836
references.citation: J Sex Med. 2008 Jul;5(7):1681-93
references.pmid: 18410300
references.citation: J Sex Res. 2005 May;42(2):113-8
references.pmid: 16123841
references.citation: Arch Sex Behav. 2007 Apr;36(2):281-8
references.pmid: 17253146
references.citation: JAMA. 1999 Feb 10;281(6):537-44
references.pmid: 10022110
references.citation: Int J Impot Res. 2004 Jun;16(3):261-9
references.pmid: 15184916
references.citation: Rehabil Nurs. 1996 May-Jun;21(3):118-23
references.pmid: 8711257
references.citation: Arch Sex Behav. 1990 Aug;19(4):389-408
references.pmid: 2205172
references.citation: Arch Sex Behav. 2009 Aug;38(4):514-27
references.pmid: 18188686
references.citation: Arch Sex Behav. 1986 Apr;15(2):157-65
references.pmid: 3718204
references.citation: Int J Impot Res. 2005 Jan-Feb;17(1):39-57
references.pmid: 15215881
references.citation: Int J Impot Res. 2004 Apr;16(2):160-6
references.pmid: 14961047
references.citation: Int J Fertil. 1990 Jul-Aug;35(4):222-5
references.pmid: 1977714
references.citation: Br J Clin Psychol. 1985 Feb;24 ( Pt 1):63-4
references.pmid: 3971070