Godefroid Kusuayi MABELE, Carel Busano NDUAKULU, Israel Kimbungu NZONZI, Siloé Ntumba TSHIYAMBA, Constant Nkiama EKISAWA
Turkish Journal of Kinesiology - 2026;12(3):216-224
The influence of physical activity level and skeletal muscle circumferences on erectile function remains poorly investigated among motorcycle taxi drivers living in sub-Saharan Africa. This study aimed to assess physical activity level, skeletal muscle circumferences, nutritional status, and their influence on erectile function among motorcycle taxi drivers in Kinshasa. This was a cross-sectional analytical study conducted among 240 motorcycle taxi drivers with a mean age of 28 years, including 60 participants recruited from each of the four districts of Kinshasa by convenience sampling at National Police stations where motorcycle taxis are officially registered and stationed. Inclusion criteria included having worked as a motorcycle taxi driver for at least one year and having an active sexual life. Descriptive statistics were used to present quantitative variables as means +/- standard deviation and qualitative variables as proportions and percentages. A predictive model of factors associated with erectile dysfunction according to the studied variables was performed using logistic regression analysis by calculating odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals. The results showed that mild erectile dysfunction was observed in 65% of the young motorcycle taxi drivers, 30.4% had moderate erectile dysfunction, and 1.2% presented severe erectile dysfunction. Among them, 30,8% experienced difficulty maintaining an erection until the completion of sexual intercourse, 91.7% spent more than six hours per day seated on their motorcycle, 58,7% were physically inactive, 53,3% reported excessive alcohol consumption, and 89,1% regularly used poorly maintained roads. Mean skeletal muscle circumferences were 34 +/- 2.8 cm for the arms, 59 +/- 4.8 cm for the thighs, and 40 +/- 3.3 cm for the calves. A significant negative impact on erectile function was observed for physical inactivity (87%, p = 0.001), constitutional obesity (61%, p = 0.030), abdominal obesity (87%, p = 0.001), poor road conditions (63%, p = 0.001), and spending more than six hours per day seated on a motorcycle (86%, p = 0.001). Conversely, skeletal muscle circumferences >= 20 cm were positively associated with better erectile function: 74% for the arms (p = 0.001), 88% for the thighs (p = 0.002), and 64% for the calves (p = 0.001). In conclusion, sedentary young motorcycle taxi drivers in Kinshasa are at high risk of erectile dysfunction. Physical inactivity, obesity, poor road conditions, and prolonged sitting time on motorcycles contribute to the deterioration of erectile and sexual function. In contrast, greater skeletal muscle circumferences at the level of the arms, thighs, and calves are associated with better erectile function.
