The impact of psychosocial factors on the risk of erectile dysfunction and inhibition of sexual desire in a sample of the Brazilian population.

CONTEXT Sexual dysfunctions can have origins in physical, psychological and psychosocial factors. OBJECTIVE To describe the frequency of erectile dysfunction (ED) and female inhibition of sexual desire (ISD) in a Brazilian sample, and to estimate the risks of these dysfunctions. TYPE OF STUDY Non-random survey. SETTING Ten Brazilian cities. METHODS 2,835 subjects (53% women) aged over 18 years answered a questionnaire about their general health and sex life. The chi-squared test and multivariate logistic regression were used. Values of p < or = 0.05 were considered significant. RESULTS The women's average age was 36.6 years (+/- 13.3) and the men's was 39.5 (+/- 13.3). 14.7% of men presented moderate/complete ED and 34.6% of women presented ISD. Depression was mentioned by 16.8% of men and 29.7% of women. The chances of having ED and ISD were higher for subjects who had had lower school attainment. Lack of a job and depression gave rise to 1.5 times (95% CI: 1.0 - 2.3) and 1.9 times (95% CI: 1.2 - 3.0) greater chances of ED respectively. Compared with men aged up to 25 years, those aged 41-60 had 1.9 times (95% CI: 1.0 - 3.4) and those aged 61 and over had 5.4 times (95% CI: 2.3 - 12.6) greater risk of ED. For women, lack of a job gave rise to 1.5 times (95% CI: 1.1 - 1.9) greater chance of ISD; depression was not associated with higher risk. Compared with women aged up to 25 years, those aged 41-60 and 61 or over had, respectively, 2.9 times (95% CI: 2.0 - 4.1) and 7.5 times (95% CI: 3.0 -18.6) greater risk of ISD. DISCUSSION Increasing unemployment has affected the whole population, but especially those with lower levels of school attainment. Such levels are positively linked with presence of sexual dysfunctions. CONCLUSION Lack of jobs, age and low school attainment are risks for the sexual dysfunctions studied. Depression increased the risk of ED but not female ISD.