Comportamentos sexuais não convencionais e associações com parâmetros de saúde física, mental e sexual: um estudo em 18 grandes cidades brasileiras

OBJECTIVE: There have been many studies investigating paraphilias and sexual compulsion, but thus far little data about prevalence of unusual sexual practices that are subthreshold for these diagnoses. The associations between unconventional sexual behavior and sociodemographic and health parameters were investigated. METHOD: A cross-sectional study of 7,022 individuals (45.4% of women) was carried out using a selfadministered questionnaire that compared individuals carrying at least one reference of unconventional sexual behavior (group 1) with individuals without such reference (group 2). RESULTS: Women's mean age was 35.0 vs. 35.9 years (p < 0.05) and men's mean age was 36.5 vs. 37.8 years (p < 0.05) being lower in group 1 than in group 2, respectively. More men (52.3%) than women (30.4%) (p < 0.001) presented unconventional sexual behavior. Fetishism (13.4%) and voyeuristic behavior (13.0%) were more frequent. Unconventional sexual behavior was associated with male gender, single or separated marital status, black or mulatto race, elementary and high school educational level, history of posttraumatic stress disorder treatment, alcohol dependence, emergency contraception, difficulty at the beginning of sexual life, sexual violence, bisexuality, and performance of anal or oral intercourse. CONCLUSION: Unconventional sexual behaviors are important because they are associated with poorer health status and lower educational levels.OBJETIVO: Pesquisadores têm conduzido vários estudos relacionados a parafilias e compulsão sexual, mas há poucos dados sobre a prevalência de práticas sexuais não usuais que são subliminares para estes diagnósticos. Foi investigada a associação entre comportamento sexual não convencional e parâmetros sociodemográficos e de saúde. MÉTODO: Estudo transversal, de 7.022 indivíduos (54,6% de homens), realizado por meio de questionário autorresponsivo, comparou indivíduos com pelo menos um comportamento sexual não convencional (grupo 1) e indivíduos sem esta referência (grupo 2). RESULTADOS: A idade média das mulheres (35,0 vs. 35,9 anos; p < 0,05) e dos homens (36,5 vs. 37,8 anos; p < 0,05) foi menor no grupo 1 do que no grupo 2, respectivamente. Mais homens (52,3%) que mulheres (30,4%) (p < 0,001) apresentaram comportamento sexual não convencional. Comportamentofetichista (13,4%) evoyeurista(13,0%) foramosmaisfrequentes. Comportamento sexual não convencional foi associado com: gênero masculino; estado civil solteiro e separado; raça negra e parda; nível educacional médio e fundamental; histórico de tratamento para transtorno do estresse pós-traumático; dependência por álcool; contracepção de emergência; dificuldade no início da vida sexual; violência sexual sofrida; bissexualidade; e prática de sexo anal e oral. CONCLUSÃO: Os comportamentos sexuais nãoconvencionaissão importantes porque estão associados a piores condições de saúde e a baixo nível educacional

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 < 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