Prevalence and Determinants of Sexual Dysfunction among Clinically Diagnosed Diabetic Patients: A Mixed Method Study

Sexual dysfunction (SD) is a neglected yet distressing complication of diabetes mellitus (DM), adversely affecting the physical as well as psychological well-being of patients. Despite its high prevalence globally, research exploring SD among both male and female diabetic patients remains limited, particularly in the Indian context, where cultural barriers hinder open discussions. This study was conducted to assess the prevalence and identify the determinants of sexual dysfunction among clinically diagnosed type 1 and type 2 DM patients.

Using a sequential explanatory mixed-method design, this study was conducted in the tertiary care hospital of western Rajasthan between June 2022 and August 2023. Quantitative data were collected from 251 diabetic patients using Sexual Functioning Questionnaire. Binary logistic regression was used to identify predictors of sexual dysfunction. In the qualitative phase, thematic analysis was performed using Hycner's phenomenological framework.

The prevalence of global SD was 66.9%, with higher rates in males (80.1%) compared to females (47%). Dysfunction across individual domains desire, arousal, pleasure, and orgasm was notably high. Significant predictors included age (31-50 years), female gender, physical inactivity, and presence of depressive symptoms (P<0.05). Qualitative data revealed four major themes: altered sexual functioning, physical fatigue, psychological distress, and barriers to help-seeking, reflecting the multifactorial nature of SD.

SD is highly prevalent among diabetic individuals and is influenced by both clinical and psychosocial factors. Routine screening for sexual health concerns should be integrated into diabetes care, especially in culturally sensitive contexts, to promote holistic and patient-centered management.