Factors associated with early sexual intercourse among teenagers and young adults in rural south of Benin

Parents' Intentions of Human Papillomavirus Vaccination for Students in Vietnam: A Cross-Sectional Study

BACKGROUND

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is known as a common agent of sexually transmitted infections and cervical cancer. One of the most effective ways for parents to protect their children from HPV is by ensuring they receive vaccinations.

AIM

To determine the percentage of parents who intend to vaccinate their children against HPV and associated factors.

METHOD

A cross-sectional study was conducted on 365 parents who had children attending high school in Ha Tinh province, Vietnam, from April to May 2023, using stratified and random sampling methods. Data were collected by a self-administered questionnaire designed based on previous studies and the domains of the Theory of Planned Behavior and Health Belief Model. A multivariable logistic regression was performed to determine the association between several factors and vaccination status.

RESULT

A total of 365 participants took part in the study. The rate of parents intending to vaccinate their children against HPV was 55.9%. Knowledge about the HPV disease and vaccine (all P < .05) and the attitude of parents (P < .001) were determined as the motivation factors that affect the intention to vaccinate children against HPV.

CONCLUSION

Many parents still do not have the intention to vaccinate children against HPV. Health education communication should focus on the motivation factors, not only to improve the parents' knowledge and perspective but also to increase the coverage of the vaccine to prevent cancers caused by HPV.

Prevalence and Trends of Sexual Behaviors Among Young Adolescents Aged 12 Years to 15 Years in Low and Middle-Income Countries: Population-Based Study

BACKGROUND

Risky sexual behaviors remain significant public health challenges among adolescents. Nearly 90% of adolescents live in low and middle-income countries (LMICs), but few studies have used standardized methodology to monitor the prevalence and trends of sexual behaviors among adolescents in LMICs.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to assess the prevalence of sexual behaviors (ever had sexual intercourse, multiple sexual partners, and condom use) among adolescents aged 12 years to 15 years as well as the trends in prevalence between 2003 and 2017.

METHODS

For this population-based study, we used recent data from the Global School-based Student Health Survey conducted in 69 LMICs from 2003 to 2017 to assess the recent prevalence of sexual behaviors by using complex analysis and a random effects meta-analyses method. Using the chi-square trend test, we also assessed the trends in the prevalence of sexual behaviors in 17 countries that had conducted ≥1 round of surveys from 2003 to 2017.

RESULTS

We included 145,277 adolescents aged 12 years to 15 years (64,719/145,277, 44.5% boys) from the 69 LMICs that had conducted ≥1 survey and 80,646 adolescents aged 12 years to 15 years (34,725/80,646, 43.1% boys) from the 17 LMICs that had conducted ≥1 round of surveys. The recent global prevalence of ever had sexual intercourse was 6.9% (95% CI 6.2%-7.6%) and was higher among boys (10.0%, 95% CI 9.1%-11.1%) than girls (4.2%, 95% CI 3.7%-4.7%) and among those aged 14 years to 15 years (8.5%, 95% CI 7.7%-9.3%) than those aged 12 years to 13 years (4%, 95% CI 3.4%-4.7%). Among adolescents who had ever had sex, the recent global prevalence of having multiple sexual partners was 52% (95% CI 50.4%-53.6%) and was higher among boys (58%, 95% CI 56.1%-59.9%) than girls (41.4%, 95% CI 38.9%-43.9%) and among those aged 14 years to 15 years (53.5%, 95% CI 51.6%-55.4%) than those aged 12 years to 13 years (49.7%, 95% CI 45.9%-53.5%). Among adolescents who had ever had sex, the recent global prevalence of condom use was 58.1% (95% CI 56.2%-59.9%) and was higher among girls (59.2%, 95% CI 56.4%-61.9%) than boys (57.7%, 95% CI 55.7%-59.7%) and among those aged 14 years to 15 years (59.9%, 95% CI 58.0%-61.8%) than those aged 12 years to 13 years (51.6%, 95% CI 47.5%-55.7%). Between the earliest and latest surveys, the overall prevalence of ever had sexual intercourse (3.1% decrease) and condom use (2.0% decrease) showed downward trends. The overall prevalence of having multiple sexual partners increased by 2.6%.

CONCLUSIONS

We provide evidence and important implication for policymakers to develop targeted policy support systems to prevent and reduce risky sexual behaviors among young adolescents in LMICs with a high prevalence of risky sexual behaviors.

Knowledge, attitudes and practices of university adolescents about syphilis: a cross-sectional study in the Northeast

OBJECTIVE

To analyze knowledge, attitudes and practices of university adolescents about syphilis.

METHODS

Cross-sectional, analytical, census-type study, developed with the universe of adolescents aged 18 and 19 years (n = 598), enrolled in three institutions of higher education in a municipality of Piauí (n = 598), which total 20 courses in the areas of Health Sciences, Applied Social Sciences, Exact and Earth, Engineering and Linguistics, Letters and Art. Data collection occurred from March to May 2019, based on a questionnaire adapted from the Pesquisa de Conhecimentos, Atitudes e Práticas da População Brasileira of 2013 (PCAP - Survey of Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices in the Brazilian Population), consisting of questions related to sociodemographic variables (gender, family arrangement, father's schooling, mother's schooling, skin color or race, employment, household income), knowledge, attitude and practice regarding the disease, the last three being classified by scores. The variables that presented p ≤ 0.20 in the bivariate analysis, by Pearson's chi-square test, were included in three multivariate logistic models, and the outcomes in each model were knowledge, attitude and practice, respectively; remaining at the end those at the level of p < 0.05.

RESULTS

Boys have a 39.6% lower chance of having adequate/regular knowledge (ORa = 0.604; 95%CI 0.415-0.878), whereas the highest chances are associated with "living alone, with relatives and friends" (ORa = 4.567; 95%CI 1.417-14.719) and having a very positive/positive attitude (ORa = 6.937; 95%CI 4.562-10.550). Lower chances of an adequate practice are associated with boys (ORa = 0.480; 95%CI 0.301-0.766) and lower father's schooling (ORa = 0.440; 95%CI 0.241-0.806).

CONCLUSION

Most participants' knowledge and attitude regarding syphilis were not sufficient to the adoption of an adequate sexual practice for the prevention of the disease, showing the need to investigate other variables that may be implicated in this cognitive incoherence.