Prevalence and Associated Factors of Female Sexual Dysfunction Among Sexually Active Students of the University of Buea.

INTRODUCTION: Female sexual dysfunction (FSD) is a common public health issue. Most studies, especially in the sub-Saharan region are typically carried out in the older married female population, but the post-secondary education period is crucial for the development of the sexuality of young women. Poor awareness and management of FSD may lead to adverse physical and psychosocial complications later on in the lives of these women. AIM: To determine the prevalence of the risk of having FSD and the factors associated with having FSD among sexually active students of the University of Buea. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study carried out in the University of Buea involving 405 sexually active students; 16 years of age and above. Quantitative data on sociodemographic, biological, interpersonal and psychosocial characteristics were collected. A validated Japanese modified version of the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI-J) was used to assess the risk of having female sexual dysfunction. Data analysis involved descriptive statistics, binary and multivariate logistic analyses. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Prevalence of risk of having FSD and its associated factors among students of the University of Buea. RESULTS: A total of 171 (42.0%) out of 405 students showed a risk of having at least one form of FSD. The commonest forms of dysfunction were problems of sexual pain (46.9%), orgasm (42.0%), desire (29.1%) and arousal (21.2%). Participants who were unmarried but in a relationship (P = .002) were less likely to experience FSD. Lower levels of education (first year [P = .005], second year [P = .001]), having a history of sexual assault (P = 0.012) and poor health (P = .012) were all independently associated with a higher risk of having FSD. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of students at risk of having FSD was high with 4 out of every 10 students showing a risk of having at least one form. Lower levels of education, having a history of sexual assault and poor health were independent risk factors of FSD. Being unmarried but in a relationship was the sole protective factor against FSD. Halle-Ekane GE, Timti LF, Tanue EA, Ekukole CM, Yenshu EV. Prevalence and Associated Factors of Female Sexual Dysfunction Among Sexually Active Students of the University of Buea. Sex Med 2021;9:100402.

Health-related quality of life and its determinants in patients with chronic low back pain at a tertiary hospital in Cameroon: a cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and its determinants in chronic low back pain (CLBP) patients in Cameroon. DESIGN: Observational cross-sectional study. SETTING: Tertiary hospital. PARTICIPANTS: There were 150 eligible adults with low back pain of at least 12 weeks who provided informed consent. Of these, 136 with complete questionnaires were analysed. OUTCOMES: HRQoL was measured using the WHO Quality of Life questionnaire (WHOQOL-BREF). Outcome measures included its four domain (physical health, psychological, social relationships and environmental) scores and two independent scores for overall quality of life (OQOL) and general health satisfaction (GH). RESULTS: Participants had a median age of 52 years, and median pain duration of 33 (IQR: 69) months. The median OQOL score was 50 (IQR: 25). After multivariable adjustment, tertiary education (ß=11.43, 95% CI 3.12 to 19.75), age (ß=0.49, 95% CI 0.12 to 0.87) and being a student (ß=23.07, 95% CI 0.28 to 45.86) contributed to better OQOL. Age (ß=0.57, 95% CI 0.10 to 1.04) and physical-type employment (ß=-14.57, 95% CI -25.83 to -3.31) affected GH. Smoking (ß=-20.49, 95% CI -35.49 to -5.48) and radiological anomalies (ß=-7.57, 95% CI -14.64 to -0.49) affected the physical health domain, while disability (ß=-0.67, 95% CI -1.14 to -0.20) and duration of pain (ß=-0.13, 95% CI -0.20 to -0.05) affected the psychological domain. Income (ß=14.94, 95% CI 4.06 to 25.81) affected the social domain, while education (ß=9.96, 95% CI 1.41 to 18.50) and disability (ß=-0.75, 95% CI -1.26 to -0.24) affected the environmental domain. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that CLBP affects HRQoL and multiple socioeconomic and clinical factors influence its impact on different domains of HRQoL. Multipronged management programmes, especially those that reduce disability, could improve HRQoL in patients with CLBP.

Factors influencing disability in patients with chronic low back pain attending a tertiary hospital in sub-Saharan Africa.

BACKGROUND: Very little is known about the burden of chronic low back pain in Africa. This study aimed at assessing disability and associated factors in chronic low back patients in Cameroon. METHODS: We carried a hospital-based cross-sectional study including patients suffering from low back pain (LBP) of at least 12 weeks' duration. Disability was assessed using the Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ). RMDQ > 4 described persons with dysfunctional levels of disability. Multivariable linear regression was used to investigate factors associated with higher RMDQ scores hence greater disability. Variables investigated included; gender, age, marital status, employment status and type, smoking history, alcohol consumption, income, pain intensity, LBP duration, psychological wellbeing, sleep satisfaction, leg pain, numbness/paresthesia, bowel/bladder dysfunction symptoms (BBDS), body mass index (BMI), and days of work absence. RESULTS: A sample of 136 adults (64% female) with a mean age of 50.6 ± 12.2 years participated in the study. Median duration of LBP was 33 (25th - 75th percentile: 12-81) months. Mean RMDQ score was 12.8 ± 6. In multivariable linear regression, pain intensity (ß = 0.07, p = 0.002), longer days of work absence (ß = 0.15, p = 0.003) and BBDS (ß =2.33, p = 0.029) were associated with greater disability. Factors such as consumption of alcohol (ß = - 3.55, p = 0.005) and higher psychological wellbeing scores (ß = - 0.10, p = 0.004) significantly contributed to less disability (lower RMDQ scores). Dysfunctional levels of disability were present in 88.1% of patients. CONCLUSION: CLBP is associated with significant disability and this relationship is driven by several factors. Multidisciplinary management strategies especially those targeted to improve pain control, manage BBDS and improve psychological wellbeing could reduce disability and improve quality of life.