Patterns of aphrodisiac herbs usage as expressed by married adults in Kwara State, Nigeria

Abstract

Sexual dysfunction is one of the problems predisposing marriages to marital instability. In order to ameliorate this problem, many married people usually results to the use of aphrodisiac herbs. Paucity of empirical studies on aphrodisiac herbs usage has necessitated the study of the patterns of aphrodisiac herbs usage as expressed by married adults in Kwara State, Nigeria. Descriptive research survey design was adopted for the study and sample of 666 respondents was selected from the three senatorial districts of Kwara State, using proportional, random and stratified sampling techniques. A researcher-developed instrument entitled “Patterns of Aphrodisiac Herbs Usage Questionnaire (PPAHUQ)” was used to collect relevant data. The instrument which was validated by lecturers in the Department of Counsellor Education, University of Ilorin yielded a reliability co-efficient of 0.66 using test re-test reliability procedure. The hypotheses were tested using t-test and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) at .05 significant level. The results revealed that the most common pattern of aphrodisiac herbs usage as perceived by married adults in Kwara State is oral use. Other uses are in forms of licking of herb candy (sweet), drinking concoction (Agbo) 2-3 hours before sexual intercourse, using herb prepared in form of ointment to rub the private part to increase sexual energy. The study however, revealed no significant difference in the patterns of aphrodisiac herbs usage as expressed by married adults in Kwara State based on gender and educational attainment. It was thus recommended that due attention be paid to the patterns of aphrodisiac herb usage by the members of the society. Efforts should therefore be made to regulate the activities of the street herb sellers by way of ensuring that their products are prepared in hygienic and clean environment. Counsellors should orientate married adults/intending couples on the need to understand their sexual problems, those of their partners while physicians/dieticians should endeavour to prescribe appropriate fruits or vegetables that could improve libidinal energy of married people as a recipe for ensuring sexual satisfaction among couples.

Keywords: Patterns, Aphrodisiac Herbs, Usage, Marriage, Sexual Performance