Trends and gender differences in age at sex debut among adolescents and young adults in urban Cape Area, South Africa

Prevalence and associated factors of early sexual initiation among female youth in East Africa: further analysis of recent demographic and health survey

Background

Early sexual initiation is one of the risky sexual practices. Early sexual beginning is associated with an increased risk of HIV/AIDS, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), unexpected pregnancies, unsafe abortion, premature deliveries, and psychosocial issues. However, there is still a lack of evidence, particularly in East Africa, where community-level factors are not investigated. Therefore, this study aimed to estimate the pooled prevalence and to identify associated factors of early sexual initiation among female youth in Eastern Africa.

Methods

A total weighted sample of 49,716 female youth was included in this analysis. STATA version 14 software was used for data extraction, recoding, and analysis. A multilevel binary logistic regression model was fitted to identify determinants of early sexual initiation in the region. Finally, Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) with a 95% Confidence Interval (CI) was reported to declare the factors that are significantly associated with early sexual initiation.

Result

The prevalence of early sexual initiation in East Africa was 21.14% [95% CI: 20.00%, 21.50%]. In the multivariable multilevel analysis; being age 20–24 years [AOR = 0.65: 95% CI; 0.61, 0.69], primary [AOR = 0.73: 95% CI; 0.67, 0.78], secondary &above education [AOR = 0.30: 95% CI; 0.27,0.33], married [AOR = 1.85: 95% CI; 1.73,1.97], middle wealth [AOR = 0.78: 95% CI; 0.72,0.84], richest [AOR = 0.74: 95% CI; 0.68,0.80], and reading newspaper [AOR 0.77: 95% CI;0.71,0.83] were significantly associated with early sexual initiation.

Conclusion

The study revealed that early sexual initiation among female youth was high in East Africa. Educational status, respondent age, marital status, wealth index, age at first cohabitation, contraceptive use, reading newspaper, and place of residence were associated with early sexual initiation. Therefore, the survey findings will help policymakers, as well as governmental and non-governmental organizations, design the most effective interventions. Moreover, strengthening information, education, and wealth status are important intervention areas to delay the age of early sexual debut.

Determinants of age at first sex inequality between women and men youth in Uganda: A decomposition analysis

INTRODUCTION

Teenage pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases are major public health problems in Uganda. Early sexual debut is one of the main routes of these public health problems. This study aimed to identify factors that explain age at first sex inequality between men and women Ugandan youth.

METHODS

This study used secondary data from a cross-sectional Uganda demographic health survey (2016). Participants were 10 189 sexually experienced youth. Using Stata 14, intermediary analysis was done to assess the statistical association between explanatory variables and age at first sex in a multiple logistic regression analysis. Oaxaca decomposition was used to decompose factors that explain inequalities in age at first sex between men and women youth.

RESULTS

Intermediary results showed Islam, many household members, residing in the eastern region, and being divorced/widowed were predictors of early age at first sex. While secondary education, higher education, blue-collar jobs, and being 20 to 30 years old were protective factors against early age at first sex. Material, behavior/cultural, psychosocial, and demographic explanatory factors jointly explained a statistically significant portion of the observed gap in early age at first sex between women and men youth. More women were at a disadvantage at an early age at first sex compared to men youth. About 96.37% of this gap was explained by unequal distribution of material, behavior/cultural, psychosocial, and demographic factors between men and women youth. Relationship to household head (49%), education (16.87%), occupation (8,94%), number of household members (8.57%), using the internet (7.99%), and reading newspapers or magazines (4.39%) made a significant contribution to the explanation of early age at first sex inequality between men and women youth.

CONCLUSIONS

Results showed early age at first sex inequality between women and men youth that favored men. Programs designed to address early age at first sex and related health outcomes must combat inequities in education, employment opportunities, access to sexual reproductive information through internet, and newspapers or magazines between men and women youth. They should also foster household relationships and monitor girls.

Knowledge of Sexuality and Contraception in Students at a Spanish University: A Descriptive Study

Youth is a period characterized by impulsiveness and risk-taking. This population often feels invulnerable and has a strong motivation to seek out their identity. These characteristics make it a risky age period for an unwanted pregnancy. This study aimed to investigate the level of knowledge about sexuality and contraception among nursing students at the University of Jaen. The students completed a 16-item questionnaire assessing their knowledge level about sexuality and contraception. A bivariate analysis was performed using the Kruskal–Wallis H and Mann–Whitney U tests. Later, an ordinal logistic regression model was generated. The sample consisted of 130 participants, with an average age of 20.36 years. The level of knowledge about sexuality and contraception was moderately high, 10.38 points out of 16. The factors associated with the probability of accordingly presenting a high level of knowledge were being a woman, having studied in a public institution, not having used any contraceptive method in the first sexual experience, and wishing to use a contraceptive pill in future sexual relations. In conclusion, the knowledge level about sexuality and contraception is high, although it is necessary to assess whether this level of high knowledge translates to the use of contraceptive methods in future sexual experiences.

NCD epidemic and sexual reproductive health issues in the infectious disease world

Nil.