Background:

Erectile enhancement medication refers to methods and treatments aimed at improving erectile function and sexual performance in men. This term is most commonly associated with interventions that address Erectile dysfunction. Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a medical condition characterized by the consistent inability to achieve or maintain an erection sufficient for satisfactory sexual performance. It can affect men of various ages and is often associated with both physical and psychological factors Physiological causes of erectile dysfunction include conditions that affect blood flow to the penis, such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and hormonal imbalances. Psychological factors, such as stress, anxiety, and depression, can also contribute to ED or exacerbate existing physical causes(1).
The global prevalence of ED ranges from 3-76.5%. ED reported to be associated with increasing age. Use of the International Index of Erectile Function and Massachusetts Male Aging Study (MMAS) a revealed a high prevalence of ED in young men which was positively associated with CVD. Men with ED have an increased risk of all-cause mortality odds ratio (OR) 1.26 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.01-1.57), as well as CVD mortality OR 1.43 (95% CI 1.00-2.05). Erection pills, such as Viagra, Levitra, Cialis and Stendra, are shown to be effective treatment for the majority of men with erectile dysfunction(2)

Large number of men including those who have diabetes or who have had pelvic surgery or radiation for prostate, bladder or colorectal cancer have low response rates to erection pills(3).

Although erectile dysfunction medications are approved to treat erectile dysfunction, there is substantial evidence indicating that these drugs have increasingly been used as a sexual enhancement aid among men without any medical indication. Erectile enhancement can involve range of approaches include medications, lifestyle changes, medical devices and psychological therapies(4).

In Africa, few epidemiological studies have been conducted concerning the use of erectile enhancement in youth’s especially undergraduate students. Studies of Erectile enhancement medication use in Africa have been done both at community and hospital settings. The prevalence of Erectile enhancement medication use in a population-based study in Egypt was 10%-13% , while in Ghana a study among men aged 19 years or more in a population reported prevalence of 65.9%(5). In Nigeria the prevalence ranged from 43.8–58.9% in a community-based setting without much difference (41.5–65.8%)(6).

In Tanzania few studies have been conducted in community and hospital setting also leaving behind the university youth. In Dar es Salaam studies have reported, prevalence to between o 24 and 55% among men in a community-setting and those attending at diabetic care respectively (7)