RESUMO
BACKGROUND: The Global Study of Sexual Attitudes and Behaviours was a survey of 27 500 men and women in 29 countries. Here we report the sexual activity, the prevalence of sexual difficulties and related help-seeking behaviour among participants in Australia. METHODS: A telephone survey was conducted in Australia in 2001-2002, with interviews based on a standardised questionnaire. A total of 1500 individuals (750 men and 750 women) aged 40 to 80 years completed the survey. The questionnaire covered demographic information, overall health, and sexual behaviours, attitudes and beliefs. RESULTS: Overall, 83% of men and 74% of women had engaged in sexual intercourse during the 12 months preceding the interview, and 38% of all men and 29% of all women engaged in sexual intercourse more than once a week. Early ejaculation (23%), erectile difficulties (21%) and a lack of sexual interest (18%) were the most common male sexual difficulties. The most frequently reported female sexual difficulties were: lack of sexual interest (33%), lubrication difficulties (26%) and an inability to reach orgasm (25%). Older age was a significant predictor of male erectile difficulties and of lubrication difficulties in women. Only a minority of men and women had sought help for their sexual difficulty(ies) from a health professional. CONCLUSIONS: Many middle-aged and older adults in Australia report continued sexual interest and sexual activity. Several sexual difficulties are highly prevalent in this population, but those experiencing these difficulties rarely seek medical help. This may be because they do not perceive such difficulties as serious or sufficiently upsetting.
Assuntos
Atitude Frente a Saúde , Nível de Saúde , Aceitação pelo Paciente de Cuidados de Saúde/estatística & dados numéricos , Comportamento Sexual/estatística & dados numéricos , Disfunções Sexuais Fisiológicas/epidemiologia , Disfunções Sexuais Psicogênicas/epidemiologia , Adulto , Idoso , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , Austrália/epidemiologia , Feminino , Humanos , Relações Interpessoais , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Aceitação pelo Paciente de Cuidados de Saúde/psicologia , Distribuição por Sexo , Comportamento Sexual/psicologia , Disfunções Sexuais Fisiológicas/diagnóstico , Disfunções Sexuais Psicogênicas/diagnóstico , Parceiros Sexuais , Percepção Social , Inquéritos e QuestionáriosRESUMO
OBJECTIVES: To study sexual activity, the prevalence of sexual dysfunction, and related help-seeking behaviour patterns among middle-aged and older people in the UK and Europe. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A telephone survey was conducted using a structured questionnaire covering demographics, health, relationships, and sexual behaviour, attitudes and beliefs. In the UK, 1500 individuals completed the survey. RESULTS: Overall, 69% of men and 56% of women reported having sexual intercourse during the past year. The most common male sexual problems, i.e. early ejaculation (20%) and erectile dysfunction (18%), were more common in the UK than in other European regions. The most common female sexual problems, i.e. a lack of sexual interest (34%) and a lack of pleasure in sex (25%), were also more common in the UK than in other European regions. Only 26% of men and 17% of women had discussed their sexual problem(s) with a doctor. CONCLUSION: Many people in the UK maintain sexual interest and activity into middle age and beyond. Although they experience sexual problems, few seek medical help. This might be because they do not perceive such problems as serious or sufficiently upsetting, and/or are not aware of available treatments.
Assuntos
Atitude Frente a Saúde , Aceitação pelo Paciente de Cuidados de Saúde , Disfunções Sexuais Fisiológicas/epidemiologia , Disfunções Sexuais Psicogênicas/epidemiologia , Adulto , Idoso , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , Estudos de Coortes , Europa (Continente)/epidemiologia , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Papel do Médico , Relações Médico-Paciente , Prevalência , Estudos Prospectivos , Comportamento Sexual , Inquéritos e QuestionáriosRESUMO
INTRODUCTION: Although there is considerable interest in the prevalence and impact of sexual problems worldwide, to date only male erectile dysfunction has been studied systematically in Asian countries. AIM: To study the prevalence of sexual problems and associated help-seeking patterns, among mature adults in Korea and to compare the results with those obtained in other Southeast Asian and East Asian countries. METHODS: As part of the Global Study of Sexual Attitudes and Behaviors (GSSAB), a survey was conducted in Korea during 2001 and 2002. Sampling was based on an intercept methodology and 1,200 individuals (600 men and 600 women) aged 40-80 years completed the survey out of 3,691 eligible subjects (response rate of 32.5%). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: General health, relationships, and sexual behaviors, attitudes, and beliefs. RESULTS: Ninety-one percent of men and 71% of women had engaged in sexual intercourse during the 12 months preceding the interview. Early ejaculation (33%) and erectile difficulties (32%) were the sexual problems most frequently reported by Korean men; these conditions were more common in Korea than in other Asian regions. Increasing age, physical inactivity, smoking, and prostate disease were significant correlates of erectile difficulties. The sexual problems most frequently reported by women in Korea were lack of sexual pleasure (37%) and inability to reach orgasm (31%). Only 2% of men and women in Korea had talked to a medical doctor about their sexual problems. CONCLUSIONS: Middle-aged and older adults in Korea regard sex as an important part of life and report continued sexual activity. Several sexual problems are highly prevalent in this population, but very few individuals seek medical help for these disorders. This is largely due to believing that the problem is not serious, not being bothered by the problem, difficulties regarding access to or affordability of medical care, and/or a lack of awareness of available treatments.
Assuntos
Conhecimentos, Atitudes e Prática em Saúde , Aceitação pelo Paciente de Cuidados de Saúde/estatística & dados numéricos , Comportamento Sexual/estatística & dados numéricos , Disfunções Sexuais Fisiológicas/epidemiologia , Disfunções Sexuais Psicogênicas/epidemiologia , Adulto , Idoso , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , Ásia/epidemiologia , Características Culturais , Disfunção Erétil/epidemiologia , Feminino , Humanos , Coreia (Geográfico)/epidemiologia , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Orgasmo/fisiologia , Prevalência , Disfunções Sexuais Fisiológicas/terapia , Disfunções Sexuais Psicogênicas/psicologia , Fatores Socioeconômicos , Inquéritos e QuestionáriosRESUMO
CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE: Relatively little is known about the usual frequency of sexual activity and how older individuals cope with sexual problems. The objective was to study sexual activity, prevalence of sexual problems and related help-seeking behaviors among middle-aged and older men and women in Brazil. DESIGN AND SETTING: Population survey, by Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. METHODS: Interviews were held with 1,199 Brazilians aged 40-80 years (471 men and 728 women). The standardized questionnaire investigated demographics, general health, sexual behavior, attitudes and beliefs. RESULTS: Overall, 92.6% of men and 58.3% of women had had sexual intercourse during the preceding year. More than half of the men and women had done so more than once a week. Early ejaculation (30.3%) was the commonest male sexual problem, followed by inability to reach orgasm (14.0%), erectile difficulties (13.1%) and lack of sexual interest (11.2%). For women, the commonest sexual problems were lubrication difficulties (23.4%) and lack of sexual interest (22.7%). Depression was a significant correlate of sexual problems, for men and women. More women than men had sought help for sexual problem(s) from a healthcare professional. CONCLUSIONS: The findings highlight the importance of encouraging greater use of available healthcare services, including consultation with a medical doctor regarding sexual health. This should not only enable men and women to maintain satisfactory sexual function well into their later years, but may also result in overall improvement in the quality of healthcare.
Assuntos
Conhecimentos, Atitudes e Prática em Saúde , Comportamento Sexual/estatística & dados numéricos , Disfunções Sexuais Fisiológicas/epidemiologia , Disfunções Sexuais Psicogênicas/epidemiologia , Adulto , Idoso , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , Brasil , Feminino , Humanos , Entrevistas como Assunto , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Vigilância da População , PrevalênciaRESUMO
To study sexual activity, the prevalence of sexual dysfunction and related help-seeking behaviours among mature adults in Spain, a telephone survey was conducted in Spain in 2001-2002. This was completed by 750 men and 750 women aged 40-80 years. Eighty-eight percent of men and 66% of women had engaged in sexual intercourse during the 12 months preceding the interview. Early ejaculation (31%) and lack of sexual interest (17%) were the most common male sexual problems. A lack of sexual interest (36%) and an inability to reach orgasm (28%) were the most common female sexual problems. Approximately 80% of men and women with a sexual problem had not sought help from a health professional. Many men and women in Spain report continued sexual interest and activity into middle age and beyond. Although a number of sexual problems are highly prevalent, few people seek medical help.
Assuntos
Coito , Disfunções Sexuais Fisiológicas , Adulto , Idoso , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Aceitação pelo Paciente de Cuidados de Saúde , Prevalência , Disfunções Sexuais Fisiológicas/epidemiologia , Disfunções Sexuais Fisiológicas/terapia , EspanhaRESUMO
CONTEXTO E OBJETIVO: A prevalência e os fatores correlatos de desordens sexuais masculinas como disfunção erétil e ejaculação precoce têm sido estudados em muitos países, entretanto, bem menos investigações se ocuparam especificamente dos problemas sexuais femininos. Além disso, relativamente pouco se sabe sobre a freqüência usual da atividade sexual e sobre como indivíduos mais velhos tentam lidar com seus problemas sexuais. O objetivo deste estudo foi estudar a atividade sexual, a prevalência de problemas sexuais e os comportamentos de busca de ajuda relacionados a esses problemas, entre homens e mulheres de meia-idade e mais velhos no Brasil.TIPO DE ESTUDO: Inquérito populacional realizado pela Faculdade Oswaldo Cruz. Pesquisa por telefone (discagem aleatória) conduzida no Brasil em 2001 e 2002. MÉTODOS: As entrevistas foram baseadas num questionário padronizado, incluindo informações demográficas, saúde em geral, e comportamentos, atitudes e crenças sexuais. Um total de 1.199 indivíduos no Brasil (471 homens e 728 mulheres) de 40 a 80 anos completou o inquérito. RESULTADOS: Ao todo, 92,6% dos homens e 58,3% das mulheres referiram alguma atividade sexual no ano que precedeu a entrevista, e mais da metade dos homens e mulheres reportaram atividade sexual mais de uma vez uma semana. Ejaculação precoce (30,3%) foi o problema sexual masculino mais comum, seguido por incapacidade de alcançar o orgasmo (14,0%), dificuldades de ereção (13,1%) e falta de interesse sexual (11,2%). Os problemas sexuais relatados mais freqüentemente por mulheres foram dificuldades de lubrificação (23,4%) e falta de interesse sexual (22,7%). Depressão foi correlacionada significativamente com problemas sexuais nos homens e nas mulheres. Mais mulheres do que homens tinham procurado a ajuda de um profissional de saúde para seu problema(s) sexual(is). CONCLUSÕES: Os achados do GSSAB destacam a importância de encorajar o maior uso dos serviços de saúde disponíveis, incluindo consultas médicas sobre queixas ligadas à saúde sexual. Isso deverá não somente possibilitar que homens e mulheres mantenham uma função sexual satisfatória até idades mais avançadas, mas também poderá resultar numa melhora geral da qualidade da assistência à saúde.