Prevalence of sexual experience among Korean adolescent: age-period-cohort analysis

Association Between School Bullying Victimization and Sexual Risk-Taking among South Korean Adolescents: The Role of Teacher and Parental Relationships

Despite the wealth of research investigating the adverse consequences of bullying, few studies have tested how bullying victimization is related to risky sexual behavior, such as unprotected sex among adolescents. To fill this gap, the current study examined the association between bullying victimization and the non-use of condoms, considering the moderating role of teacher and parental relationships. We employed a series of logistic regression models to examine these relationships among a sample of sexually active Korean adolescents (n = 153; ages 11-17 years old). Results showed that bullying victimization was significantly related to greater non-use of condoms. Moreover, relationships with teachers and parents moderated the impact of bullying victimization on non-use of condoms, suggesting that positive relationships with teachers and parents exerted buffering impacts against sexual risk-taking behavior for bullying victims. Practical implications and suggestions for future research are also discussed.

Association between early sexual initiation and sexually transmitted infections among Peruvian reproductive-age women

Background

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are a serious public health problem worldwide, especially among reproductive-age women. The early sexual onset of sexual intercourse (EOSI) has been suggested as a risk factor, although there is no data at the national level.

Objective

To evaluate the association between EOSI and STIs in Peruvian women of childbearing age.

Methods

Analytical cross-sectional study with secondary data analyzes of the Peruvian Demographic and Family Health Survey 2018. The outcome was the presence of STIs in the last 12 months and the exposure variable was EOSI (age < 15 years at the time of their first sexual experience). To evaluate the association of interest, crude and adjusted prevalence ratios (aPRs) were calculated using generalized linear models with Poisson family and logarithmic link function.

Results

We analyzed data from 31,028 women of childbearing age. The 11.3% reported having STIs in the last 12 months and 20.2% of the participants had an EOSI. After adjusting for potential confounders, we found that EOSI was associated with STIs (aPR: 1.27; 95% CI: 1.08-1.50; p = 0.005). When conducting stratified analysis by area of residence and number of sexual partners, this association was maintained in women living in urban areas (aPR: 1.36; 95% CI: 1.11-1.66; p = 0.003) those who did not report having a history of multiple sexual partners (aPR: 1.27; 95% CI: 1.08-1.51; p = 0.005), and those in the middle (aPR: 1.42; 95% CI: 1.03-1.97; p = 0.034) and highest (aPR: 2.12; 95% CI: 1.33-3.39; p = 0.002) wealth quintiles.

Conclusion

Among reproductive-age women from Peru, EOSI was associated with STIs, especially in women living in urban areas, with no history of multiple sexual partners, and belonging to the middle to higher wealth index. The implementation of measures to prevent EOSI and fostering appropriate sexual health counseling for women with EOSI is advised.

Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccination Intent among Mothers of Adolescent Sons: A National Survey on HPV Knowledge, Attitudes and Beliefs in South Korea

PURPOSE

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections affecting both males and females but there is an apparent lack of knowledge and apprehension towards male HPV vaccination South Korea. The purpose of the present study was to examine the associations between knowledge and perceptions of male HPV vaccination and vaccination intent among Korean mothers of adolescent sons.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We conducted a cross-sectional study using a nationwide online survey. The independent variables were mothers' sociodemographic characteristics, history of HPV diagnosis, general HPV knowledge, HPV vaccine knowledge, and attitudes and beliefs towards male HPV vaccination. The outcome variable was mothers' intent to vaccinate their sons, which was classified into three categories: non-intent, undecided and intend to vaccinate. We performed univariate analysis and multinomial logistic regression analysis.

RESULTS

A total of 906 eligible mothers completed the survey. Mothers received low scores on the HPV-related knowledge scales with low ratings on the scale measuring perceived risk of HPV. Approximately 10% of the mothers intended to vaccinate their sons against HPV, 61.0% were undecided and 1.5% already had their sons vaccinated. According to the multinominal logistic regression analysis, having a daughter in the family, mothers' previous diagnosis with HPV, general HPV knowledge, influence, harm, and risk were significantly associated with being undecided and having intentions to vaccinate their sons (p<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Our study revealed that Korean mothers are generally less aware of male HPV vaccination, have low perceived risk of HPV, and remain highly hesitant on vaccinating their sons against HPV. It is therefore important to raise public awareness about male HPV vaccination and alleviate vaccine hesitancy. Such efforts will contribute to improving parents' vaccination intent, increasing vaccine uptake among male adolescents and prevention of HPV-associated diseases.

Factors associated with adolescents' sexual experience based on the biopsychosocial model: a cross-sectional study using the Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey (KYRBS)

OBJECTIVES

Sexual activity is an important integrative behaviour that interacts with biological, psychological and social factors among various changes in adolescence. However, starting sex at an early age is associated with adverse outcomes. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the factors associated with adolescents' sexual experience based on the biopsychosocial model.

DESIGN

A cross-sectional study.

SETTING

The participants were selceted through a complex sample design at high schools and middle schools nationwide in Korea.

PARTICIPANTS

We employed 4-year data (2017-2020) of the cross-sectional Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey. In total, 234567 participants attending middle school and high school were analysed. Sexual experience was defined as having had sexual intercourse (oral, anal or vaginal) in their lifetime. To identify variables associated with adolescents' sexual experiences, we used a biopsychosocial model. Logistic regression analysis was performed to identify the variables associated with sexual experience.

RESULTS

3.4% of boys and 1.6% of girls attending middle school had sexual experiences, showing a significant difference. A total of 10.4% of boys and 5.1% of girls attending high school had sexual experiences (p&lt;0.001). Among the biological factors of the biopsychosocial model, age and gender were significantly associated with sexual experiences in adolescents. Regarding the psychological factors, suicidal thoughts were a significant risk factor associated with sexual experience. Furthermore, social factors including drinking, smoking and family structure were associated with sexual experience in adolescents. Particularly, a significantly higher sexual experience was found in the three groups living with a single parent, step-parents and no parents compared with the group living with both parents in family structure.

CONCLUSIONS

This study demonstrated the factors associated with adolescents' sexual experience based on the biopsychosocial model. Further research and policy strategies that consider supporting family communication and mental health and preventing substance use are required to prevent adolescents' sexual health.

Sexual-Related Knowledge, School and Family Sexuality Education and Its Association with Experience of Sexual Intercourse among Vocational Secondary School Students in China

Objectives: To investigate the associations between sexual-related knowledge, access to school and family sexuality education, and the experience of sexual intercourse, in order to make recommendations on sexuality education for vocational secondary school students in China. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 3180 vocational secondary school students in the Shanghai municipality and the Shaanxi province, China. Data were collected through an online, electronic questionnaire, which included socio-demographics, sexual-related knowledge, sources of information, and sexual-related behaviors. Results: The score on sexual-related knowledge among girls (53.8) is higher than that of boys (48.8), and that of participants from Shanghai (55.2) is higher than their counterparts from Shaanxi (47.6). The proportions of girls (70% and 41.7%, respectively) and participants from Shanghai (65% and 35.7%, respectively) who reported acquiring sexual information from their schools/teachers and parents are higher than that of boys (54.3% and 21.0%, respectively) and their counterparts from Shaanxi (59.7% and 27.4%, respectively). About 6% of participants had experienced sexual intercourse and 10% had watched porn actively. Experience of sexual intercourse was associated with higher sexual-related knowledge scores (OR = 1.01, 95% CI: 1.00–1.02) and active porn watching (OR = 2.63, 95% CI: 1.79–3.84) but was not associated with school and family sexuality education. Conclusions: Vocational secondary school students had poor sexual knowledge and inadequate school and family sexuality education. School and family-based comprehensive sexuality education should be promoted among vocational secondary school students.