Oncosexology in côte d’Ivoire: Attitudes and Practices of Physicians Involved in the Management of Breast and Prostate Cancer

Kouamé Konan Yvon Kouassi^1,*, Bitti Adde Odo¹, Yenahaban Lazare Toure¹, Ouowene Prisca Marina Sougue², Petiori Gningayou Laurence épouse Kamara Touré¹, N’Guessan Manlan Prosper Mebiala¹, Fleur Audrey Sessegnon¹, Marie Sandrine Koffi¹, Akissi Marie Barbara Yvonne Nogbou¹, Sherif Traore¹, Asmaho Akissi Danielle Andree Traore-Kouassi¹, Moctar Toure¹
1 Department of Medicine and Medical Specialties, UFR Medical Sciences, Félix Houphouët Boigny University, Yamoussoukro, 01 BP V166 Abidjan 01, Côte d’Ivoire
2 Service De Cancerologie Du Chu De Treichville, Treichville, 01 BP V03 Abidjan 01, Côte d’Ivoire
* Corresponding Author: Kouamé Konan Yvon Kouassi. Email: email

Psycho-Oncologie https://doi.org/10.32604/po.2024.049816

Received 19 January 2024; Accepted 26 August 2024; Published online 13 September 2024

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Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the attitudes and practices of oncosexology in the management of breast and prostate cancer in Côte d’Ivoire. Methods: A cross-sectional, multicenter, descriptive and analytical survey carried out over 02 months from 1 November to 31 December 2022, among doctors involved in the management of breast and prostate cancer in Côte d’Ivoire. Results: 78 physicians on 114 participated in the study, with a participation rate of 79.5%. Only one doctor discussed the sexual risks associated with cancer with all his patients and 7.7% of doctors said they never broached questions of sexuality with their patients. The approach to sexuality was strongly associated with occupation (p = 0.002). A request for onco-sexological care was initiated by the patient and the partner respectively in 3.8% and 25.6% of cases. Only 5.1% of physicians claimed to have received training in oncosexuality. In 92.3% of cases, doctors would like to have training on this topic. Conclusion: On the questions relating to sexuality, Physicians are not addressing sexuality with their patients diagnosed with breast or prostate cancer. The lack of training in this area appears to be the main reason for this lack of communication and onco-sexological care.