Experiences from a marital-sex therapy clinic in Nairobi

Out of 100 first referrals to a newly started family/marital - sex therapy clinic in Nairobi, 52 cases were studied for sociodemographic characteristics, help-seeking pattern for their sexual problems, presentation of the sexual problems, factors that might sustain the sexual problems, types of sexual problems and the treatment approaches. There was a male preponderance. Both married and non-married patients were seen. The problems tended to occur in relatively young people, and for those who were married in relatively early years of their marriage. The patients attributed the causes of the sexual problems to physical rather than psychological factors, although objective assessment found relatively very few possible physical causes. Elementary rather than subtle psychological causes were frequent. These formed fertile grounds for intervention. The findings are discussed in the light of the social-cultural context in which they were obtained.