INFLUENCE OF COVID-19 PANDEMIC ON SEXUAL AND MENTAL HEALTH AMONG COUPLES DURING LOCKDOWN IN KOGI STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

Corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has affected the lives of people globally. This was due to changes in lifestyles caused by the pandemic. The aim of the study was to determine the influence of COVID-19 pandemic lockdown on sexual and mental health of couples in Kogi State, Nigeria. Descriptive cross-sectional research design was used. A sample size of six hundred (600) respondents were selected using multistage sampling techniques. Data were collected with self-structured questionnaires and analyzed using inferential statistics of chi-square.The finding of the study revealed that COVID -19 pandemic lockdown increased the rate of sexual intimacy, excitement, sexual intercourse, arousal, orgasm, and satisfaction among couples. Also, the study found that couples experienced mental health problems such as depression, anxiety and fear amongst other during COVID-19 pandemic lockdown. The study concluded that COVID-19 pandemic lockdown influences sexual and mental health behaviour’s among couples in Kogi State. During the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown, there was also a significant increase in depression, anxiety, stress, phobia, anger, and obsessive-compulsive disorders among couples in Kogi State, Nigeria. It was recommended that couples should be referred to professional health counselor for proper and adequate counseling.