title: Experiences of general practitioners in the Ga-Rankuwa and Mabopane areas in dealing with patients who have sexual problems.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Sexual problems are common. Many patients with sexual health dysfunction use self-help literature or are often managed in general practice. However, many general practitioners (GPs) find it difficult to discuss sexual health issues because they feel uncomfortable with this and lack training in these matters. These GPs are now referring patients with sexual dysfunction to specialists.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We sought to explore how GPs working in the Mabopane and Ga-Rankuwa areas of handle sexual problems of their patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  The setting was the Mabopane and Ga-Rankuwa areas of North-West Tshwane, in Gauteng Province.
  
  
  METHODS
  A qualitative study comprising eight free attitude interviews with purposefully selected four male and four female GPs. All interviews were conducted in English and tape-recorded. Field notes in the form of a detailed diary was kept. The tapes were transcribed verbatim, and the transcriptions were checked against the tapes for omissions and inaccuracies.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Six themes emerged from the interviews: causes of sexual problems; presentation of sexual problems to the doctor; management of sexual health problems; sex is a taboo topic; society's need for sexual health discussions, and these discussions have already begun; previous limited exposure and training, and a need for more sexual health training.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study confirms earlier findings that patients could be either reluctant to discuss their problems or are open about them when presenting to doctors with sexual dysfunction. GPs were not exposed to sexual health training at medical school and, because of this shortcoming, felt that training in sexual medicine should be part of the curriculum.
authors: Benjamin
authors: B
authors: Mills
authors: Department of Family Medicine, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University. indiran.govender@gmail.com.
authors: Indiran
authors: I
authors: Govender
authors: Jannie
authors: J
authors: Hugo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D058005:General Practitioners / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D036301:Qualitative Research; D060728:Reproductive Health; D020018:Sexual Dysfunctions, Psychological; D013019:South Africa; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires