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Nigerian male sexual activity during pregnancy
Author(s) -
Onah H.E.,
Iloabachie G.C.,
Obi S.N.,
Ezugwu F.O.,
Eze J.N.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
international journal of gynecology and obstetrics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.895
H-Index - 97
eISSN - 1879-3479
pISSN - 0020-7292
DOI - 10.1016/s0020-7292(01)00579-3
Subject(s) - medicine , pregnancy , obstetrics , gynecology , genetics , biology
Objectives: To determine the prevalence of extra‐marital sexual affairs as well as other aspects of male sexual behavior during pregnancy in Nigeria. Methods: A questionnaire survey of the husbands of consecutive women who delivered in three tertiary care centers in south‐eastern Nigeria within an 8‐week period. The data were analyzed by means of simple percentages and descriptive and inferential statistics, using t ‐tests, chi‐square tests and regression equations at the 95% confidence level. Results: 279 (88.3%) of the 316 eligible husbands responded to the questionnaire. A total of 78 (28.0%) of the respondents engaged in extra‐marital sexual relationships during pregnancy. Of the respondents, 36.6% and 32.3% experienced a decrease in achievement of erection and orgasm, respectively. While libido decreased in 41.9%, coital frequency declined in 72.4% of the respondents. On univariate analysis, respondent's age ≥40 years, duration of marriage ≥5 years, having an extra‐marital sexual partner and beliefs that coitus during pregnancy should be less frequent or can cause miscarriage were significant predictors of reduced coital frequency while a belief that coitus enhances fetal well‐being was a significant predictor of increased coital frequency during pregnancy ( P <0.05 for each variable). On multivariate logistic regression, three factors were statistically significant predictors of reduced coital frequency — age ≥40 years (OR=2.3; 95% C.I., 1.9–2.3) and beliefs that coitus during pregnancy can cause miscarriage (OR=1.9; 95% C.I., 1.5–2.3) and should be less frequent (OR=1.9; 95% C.I., 1.8–2.5). Conclusions: Personal beliefs significantly affect sexual relationships between Nigerian husbands and their pregnant wives, making approximately one‐third of husbands engage in extra‐marital relationships as a way to satisfy their unmet sexual need during pregnancy. There is a need to educate husbands and their pregnant wives on sexual matters during pregnancy.