Sexuality: Knowledge of medical and non-medical Nigerian population

Abstract

In this comparative study on sexuality, a validated questionnaire was administered to 440 medical students and interns from three tertiary institutions, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital (NAUTH), University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) and 152 non-medical persons domiciled around these institutions. This was to evaluate the knowledge of the two groups on sexuality and to make recommendations if any. The condom was the most popular means of contraception among 70. 37% of the medical and 29.63% non-medical persons. One hundred percent of the medical and 45.4% non-medical persons knew that the condom is not the most reliable method of contraception. Whereas 41.8% of medical and 37.5% of non-medical persons responded “true” to the statement “that the immediate result of castration is impotence”, 58.2% medical and 68.4% non-medical responded “false”. While 80% medical and 67% non-medical persons believe that three are two kinds of orgasmic response, 60% medical and 78.2% nonmedical believe that the immediate result of castration is impotence. About 58.8% medical and 35.1% non-medical believe that certain conditions of mental and emotional instability are demonstrably caused by masturbation. Although there are more correct answers by the medical group, there are no marked significant differences between the two groups as would be expected in a group that has gone through a curriculum on sexuality and one that has not. Presently, we are unaware of any programmed course on sexuality in any of our institutions. It is suggested that our medical students and interns go through a sexuality curriculum that will equip them to manage the increasing sexual health problems.

Keywords

• sexuality - knowledge - curriculum