Sexual Functioning and Selected Clinical and Psychosocial Factors Among Individuals with Chronic Non-specific Low Back Pain in Ibadan, Nigeria

Abstract

Chronic non-specific low back pain (CNLBP) has significant impact on psychosocial life, functional status, and sexual functioning. Prevalence of sexual dysfunction, and influence of selected clinical and psychosocial factors on sexual functioning were investigated in patients with CNLP in Ibadan, Nigeria. Sexual function, pain intensity, pain disability, quality of life were assessed using a modified questionnaire on sexual dysfunction in CNLBP, visual analogue scale, Oswestry low back pain disability questionnaire and quality of life questionnaires respectively. General attitude to sexuality, fear of increased pain at the low back, unwillingness to have sex, expression of sexual feelings, fear of losing the ability to perform sexual activities were assessed with the modified questionnaire. Participants (50 males; 46 females) were aged 46.7 ± 11.8 years. Orgasmic sexual dysfunction (50.0%) was the most prevalent while dysfunction with sexual satisfaction (14.6%) was the least prevalent. Participants with or without sexual dysfunction did not differ significantly in age (p = 0.07), pain duration (p = 0.64), pain disability (p = 0.76) and quality of life (p = 0.64). However, they differed significantly in pain intensity (p = 0.00). Significant associations exist between gender (p = 0.000) and sexual functioning. Participants’ sexual functioning were significantly influenced by psychosocial factors willingness to have sex (p = 0.013), expression of sexual feelings (p = 0.000). Participants’ pain intensity also significantly influenced (p = 0.00) their sexual functioning. Sexual dysfunction is prevalent among individuals with chronic non-specific low back pain and was influenced by clinical factors of pain intensity, pain disability, quality of life and psychosocial factors of general attitude towards sexuality, expression of sexual feelings, and willingness to have sex.