Evaluation of erectile dysfunction among bicycle taxi riders (bodaboda) in Bungoma town

Abstract

Organic erectile dysfunction is common in elderly men but is not prevalent in menbelow 40 years of age. However, in addition to other known causes such as smoking, alcohol intake and diabetes mellitus, recent research has implicated bicycle riding as the cause of erectile dysfunction(ED) in much younger men. Even stationary bikes can cause trauma to the blood supply to the penis, resulting in ED. STUDY DESIGN:. Cross-sectional cornparattve study, comparing erectile dysfunction among boda boda taxi riders and sugarcane cutters in Bungoma town and Nzoia sugar company. MAIN OBJECTIVE; To evaluate the effects of long term bicycle riding on erectile function among bicycle taxi (boda boda) riders in Bungoma town. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE. Prevalence of erectile dysfunction among bicycle taxi riders and sugarcane cutters, compare rates of erectile dysfunction between bicycle taxi riders and sugarcane cutters. RESULTS. A total of 230 participants were enrolled in this study of whom 115 were sugarcane cutters and 115 were bicycle taxi riders. The overall prevalence of ED among bicycle taxi riders was 35.9% and 34.0% among sugarcane cutters, was not significantly different. The period of riding in months was not significantly associated with ED among bicycle taxi riders but the length of riding in hours per week was significantly associated with ED p< 0.01. The risk of ED increased as the hours of riding per week increased. None of those who rode for more than 60 hours per week had a normal erectile function. The type of bicycle used was significantly associated with the quality of erection p<0.05, hardness of erection score p<0.05. Those who used mechanical (none motorized) bicycles had an increased risk for ED. CONCLUSION. Longer hours of bicycle riding per week and use of non-motorized bicycles was associated with higher rates of erectile dysfunction among Boda boda taxi riders. RECOMMENDATIONS. Those involved in this business should be advised to work for fewer hours per week and rest more to decrease the risk of erectile dysfunction.