Perspectives of Obstetricians and Gynecologists in Ethiopia Towards Female Sexual.
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Date
2026
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Addis Ababa Uinverstiy
Abstract
Background: Female sexual dysfunction (FSD) is a common yet often neglected health problem
in Ethiopia. Although obstetricians and gynecologists are the primary providers of sexual and
reproductive healthcare, their perspectives on FSD have not previously been assessed.
Objective: To assess the knowledge, attitudes, and clinical practices regarding female sexual
dysfunction and to identify factors associated with clinical practice among obstetricians and
gynecologists in Ethiopia in 2025.
Methods: An analytic, nationwide cross-sectional study was conducted among 245 obstetricians
and gynecologists recruited through convenience sampling via professional networks and social
media platforms. Data were collected using a structured, self-administered questionnaire. The
data were summarized using frequencies and percentages, medians and interquartile ranges, and
graphical presentations. To identify factors associated with good practice, binary logistic
regression analysis was performed at p < 0.05, and results were reported using adjusted odds
ratios (AORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs).
Results: Out of 245 participants, 40.8% demonstrated adequate knowledge and 41.2% had
favorable attitudes, but only 10.2% exhibited good clinical practice, while 61.2% were
categorized as having poor practice. Most specialists correctly identified core types of FSD, such
as decreased sexual desire (96.3%), but fewer than half were aware of standardized assessment
tools such as the Female Sexual Function Index (46.1%). The most prominent barriers reported
were lack of formal training (79.6%), absence of clinical guidelines (64.5%), and cultural or
religious factors (59.6%).
In multivariate analysis, factors significantly associated with good practice included more than 5
years of professional experience (AOR = 2.59, 95% CI: 1.25–5.37, p = 0.010), formal sexual and
reproductive health (SRH) training specially on FSD (AOR = 10.01, 95% CI: 2.40–41.78, p =
0.002), adequate knowledge (AOR = 5.80, 95% CI: 3.01–11.19, p < 0.0001), and favorable
attitude (AOR = 4.11, 95% CI: 2.14–7.87, p < 0.0001).
Conclusion: Ethiopian obstetricians and gynecologists demonstrate moderate knowledge and
generally favorable attitudes toward female sexual dysfunction; however, clinical practice
remains limited. The tenfold increase in good practice among trained providers, together with the
high proportion of specialists identifying lack of training as a major barrier, highlights an
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important opportunity for improvement through targeted training and supportive policies that
strengthen clinicians‟ skills and translate willingness into effective clinical practice.
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Keywords
Female sexual dysfunction, OB-GYN, Ethiopia, cross-sectional study, sexual health, provider perspectives.