BIO-PSYCHOSOCIAL FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH THE USE OF SEXUAL ENHANCERS AMONG GHANAIAN MEN

Abstract

This study explores the biopsychosocial factors that affect the decision of Ghanaian men to use sexual enhancers/aphrodisiacs. The study was qualitative in nature and made use of thematic content analysis as its main tool of analysis. Two focus groups involving ten (10) participants were used in the study. Participant age ranges was between 25 – 59 years.  Findings indicated that the decision to use an aphrodisiac involve a complexity of interactions between social, psychological and biological factors. The main social findings were that a man’s sexual ability to perform sex is indicative of status and prestige in society. The psychological reason for the use of aphrodisiacs was to punish women. The biological reasons were to use sexual enhancers as tools to prove masculinity and as a function of age and absence of disease. The study also gave the easy availability of sexual enhancers in Ghana, as one of the reasons. Recommendations centred on education on the effects of sexual enhancers and their availability on the market be controlled.