Podoconiosis significantly lowers sexual quality of life (SQOL) for both men and women, with 60.5% of females and 84.2% of males having low SQOL scores, and multiple social, economic, and healthcare-related factors were found to influence SQOL in this population.
The majority of podoconiosis patients had low sexual quality of life scores, with the proportion being higher among males than females.
Having an educated partner was associated with improved sexual quality of life among female podoconiosis patients.
Family and government support positively influenced sexual quality of life scores for both male and female podoconiosis patients.
Healthcare accessibility and ability to move from place to place were among the factors positively influencing sexual quality of life in female podoconiosis patients.
Having a partner employed in government or private work, presence of additional chronic illnesses, shorter disease duration, and poor healthcare experiences were negatively associated with sexual quality of life in male podoconiosis patients.
The study used validated sex-specific questionnaires (SQOL-F and SQOL-M) administered to 639 podoconiosis patients using a community-based cross-sectional design with multistage sampling.
Sexual quality of life among podoconiosis patients in Ethiopia, particularly in the study area, had not been previously explored.
This research examined the sexual quality of life (SQOL) of 639 people living with podoconiosis — a chronic swelling disease of the legs caused by walking barefoot on volcanic soil — in the Wolaita Zone of South Ethiopia. Using validated questionnaires specifically designed to measure sexual quality of life in men and women separately, the researchers found that the vast majority of patients reported poor sexual quality of life: about 60% of women and 84% of men scored in the low range. This suggests that podoconiosis has a substantial negative impact on an aspect of wellbeing that has rarely been studied in this population. The study identified several factors that either improved or worsened patients' sexual quality of life. For women, having a more educated partner, access to healthcare, being able to move around independently, holding positive attitudes about sexual health, receiving family and government support, and having a middle-level income were all linked to better sexual quality of life. For men, family and government support also helped, but having a partner with formal employment, suffering from additional chronic illnesses, having been recently diagnosed, and having negative healthcare experiences were all associated with worse sexual quality of life. This research suggests that improving the sexual health and overall wellbeing of podoconiosis patients will require more than just treating the physical disease. Strengthening family and community support networks, improving access to healthcare, addressing stigma, and incorporating sexual health education and services into podoconiosis care programs could all play important roles in helping affected individuals lead fuller lives. The findings highlight that the social and economic circumstances surrounding a person's illness are just as important as the disease itself in shaping their quality of life.
Abiso T, Kerbo A, Woticha E. (2025). Sexual quality of life and associated factors among podoconiosis patients in Wolaita zone, South Ethiopia.. Journal of health, population, and nutrition. https://doi.org/10.1186/s41043-025-01012-z