Indian Journal of Private Psychiatry

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VOLUME 15 , ISSUE 2 ( July-December, 2021 ) > List of Articles

Original Article

Sexual Functioning and Its Association with Psychological Symptoms among Doctors Working in a COVID-19 Care Facility: A Cross-sectional Survey

Archana Gopal, Anvitha Kayarpady, Prashanth Nagabhushan Rudra

Keywords : Anxiety, COVID-19, Depression, Healthcare workers, Sexual dysfunction

Citation Information : Gopal A, Kayarpady A, Rudra PN. Sexual Functioning and Its Association with Psychological Symptoms among Doctors Working in a COVID-19 Care Facility: A Cross-sectional Survey. Ind J Priv Psychiatry 2021; 15 (2):87-91.

DOI: 10.5005/jp-journals-10067-0082

License: CC BY-NC 4.0

Published Online: 31-12-2021

Copyright Statement:  Copyright © 2021; The Author(s).


Abstract

Background: Psychological symptoms which are common among frontline healthcare workers (HCWs) can be devastating and can affect sexual functioning of this population. Aims: The article was to assess sexual functioning among the frontline doctors and to study the association between sexual functioning and psychological symptoms. Materials and methods: It was a cross-sectional survey conducted among 150 doctors treating COVID-19 patients in a tertiary care teaching hospital. The survey tools included a sociodemographic questionnaire, Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21), and Changes in Sexual Functioning Questionnaire (CSFQ) which was sent using a Google Forms link to all participants after informed consent. Chi-square test, t-test, Pearson correlation, and multivariate logistic regression were used. p <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Sexual dysfunction was present in 21 (31.62%) males and 65 (65%) females. Both males and females with severe stress had lower global sexual functioning scores (p = 0.02, 0.02). Those with severe stress had reduced sexual frequency, sexual pleasure, and sexual excitement. Global sexual dysfunction was predicted by age >25 years in males, working hours >100/month, and severe stress in both males and females. Conclusion: Sexual dysfunction was common in both male and female frontline doctors. Presence of stress, higher age, and greater working hours were associated with poor sexual functioning with decreased sexual desire, sexual pleasure, and sexual arousal.


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