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Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Behcet Uz (The Hilton Istanbul Hotel )
Most studies on sexual behaviours in Nigeria have focused on young people and adults with limited attention paid to the elderly. There is dearth of information about elderly persons’ reproductive health challenges, including sexual dysfunction, and their involvement in risky sexual activities.
The study was cross sectional in design, consisted 400 male/female geriatrics aged 65 years and above, selected by three-stage sampling technique. Validated questionnaire, was designed from six Focus Group Discussions (FGD used to obtain information from the participants. The FGDs were transcribed and themes were developed. The questionnaire data were analyzed using descriptive and Chi-square statistics.
More than half, (50.5%) were males. A majority were Yoruba (91.3%) and Christians (63%). A total of 76.2% males and 12.6% females had their last sexual intercourse in the two years preceding the study. Majority 25% of the participants had extramarital sex since they attained the age of 65 years. Among this subgroup, few (6.8%) used condom. More males (5.3%) than females (1.5%) used condom during their last episode of extra-marital sex. The low level of condom-use was attributed to the belief that condom is not necessary (34.5%) and the perception (50%) that condom is not meant for geriatrics. Death of spouse (78.5%) and loneliness (80.8%) were the main reasons for extra-marital sex. Majority (68.8%) of the participants were of the view that having sex with a virgin could boost immunity against STIs/HIV, which comprised 65.1% males and 34.9% females. Majority (56.4%) males and females (66.7%) agreed sex has healing effect to the elderly. Early ejaculation/erectile dysfunction (31.3%) were males’ major sexual problems, while inadequate vaginal lubrication (10.3%) was the females’ sexual dysfunctions.
The study was cross sectional in design, consisted 400 male/female geriatrics aged 65 years and above, selected by three-stage sampling technique. Validated questionnaire, was designed from six Focus Group Discussions (FGD used to obtain information from the participants. The FGDs were transcribed and themes were developed. The questionnaire data were analyzed using descriptive and Chi-square statistics.
More than half, (50.5%) were males. A majority were Yoruba (91.3%) and Christians (63%). A total of 76.2% males and 12.6% females had their last sexual intercourse in the two years preceding the study. Majority 25% of the participants had extramarital sex since they attained the age of 65 years. Among this subgroup, few (6.8%) used condom. More males (5.3%) than females (1.5%) used condom during their last episode of extra-marital sex. The low level of condom-use was attributed to the belief that condom is not necessary (34.5%) and the perception (50%) that condom is not meant for geriatrics. Death of spouse (78.5%) and loneliness (80.8%) were the main reasons for extra-marital sex. Majority (68.8%) of the participants were of the view that having sex with a virgin could boost immunity against STIs/HIV, which comprised 65.1% males and 34.9% females. Majority (56.4%) males and females (66.7%) agreed sex has healing effect to the elderly. Early ejaculation/erectile dysfunction (31.3%) were males’ major sexual problems, while inadequate vaginal lubrication (10.3%) was the females’ sexual dysfunctions.
An appreciable proportion of the elderly were involved in risky sexual practices. Therefore, health education intervention programmes like training on safe sex practices are needed to address the problem
Learning Objectives: The study determined the perceptions, sexual practices and reproductive health problems of the elderly people in Nigeria
Sub-Theme: Lessons learned from community-based public health research
See more of: Long Term Care and Elderly Care
See more of: Public Health Research & Policy Development
See more of: Public Health Research & Policy Development
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