A cross-sectional study of factors associated with adolescent sexual activity

Abstract

Context:Adolescents constitute about 20% of our population and increasingly more of them are initiating sexual activity at an early age. Several behaviors associated with adolescence like masturbation, expression of masculinity/femininity, lifestyle habits like attending late night parties, and consumption of alcohol have been variously implicated in initiating sexual activities. Sexual abuse can also lead to premature sexualization. In view of few worthwhile studies from India that have dealt with these issues this study was undertaken.Aims:To elicit information from two co-education schools adolescent boys and girls on matters related to pubescence, sexual experiences, and sexual health.Settings and Design:Study subjects involved students from class IX to XII in two co-education schools. Consent of parents was taken to administer the questionnaire to their wards.Materials and Methods:A total of 586 out of 1580 students completed a self-reporting questionnaire on matters related to sexuality. Statistical Analysis EpiInfo6 Software was used.Results:Significant association was found among those holding the view that having sex proves their masculinity, being sexually abused, masturbation among boys, and sexual activity. A significantly large number of boys and girls are unaware of role of alcohol on sexual activity and that pregnancy can be caused by single intercourse.Conclusions:This was probably the first such comparative study from India. Mechanisms need to be evaluated to help adolescents understand their sexual attitudes and situations that are likely to provoke sexual activity. Therefore, not only more detailed and longitudinal studies are needed to understand these relations in a better perspective, but also a well-planned educational program for adolescents is a need of the hour.

Sexuality in Adolescents: have we Explored Enough! A Cross-sectional Study to Explore Adolescent Health in a City Slum in Northern India

“…Shashikumar et al, [13] has reported 6.31% boys and 1.31% girls having history of sexual activity in their study done on students of class IX to XII in two co-education schools of Pune. Bansal [14] had reported 25.2% of the adolescent truck cleaners had a history of sexual activity.…”

The representations of adolescents about gynecological consultation

“…Accordingly, although it is a public domain that sexual initiation among adolescents is happening increasingly early (5,8) , there is an enormous difficulty to accept as natural the sexual activity in this age group (18) . Trying to avoid or stop the sexual initiation of a teenager daughter, many families threat, reproach and criticize constantly.…”

“…Research regarding sexual experience in adolescents in India, Latin America and South Africa reveal elevated vulnerability in this age group (4)(5)(6) . The main indicated factors were early sexual initiation and need to adopt measures to help adolescents adopting safe sexual practices (5) ; insufficient information about sexual and reproductive health in advising services, having as consequence, a low number of adolescents sexually active being preventive against Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) (4) .…”

“…The main indicated factors were early sexual initiation and need to adopt measures to help adolescents adopting safe sexual practices (5) ; insufficient information about sexual and reproductive health in advising services, having as consequence, a low number of adolescents sexually active being preventive against Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) (4) . Showing another problem dimension, studies point that although adolescents have knowledge about preservatives they still adopt a risky sexual behavior (6)(7) .…”

Sexual Exposure and Awareness of Emergency Contraceptive Pills among Never Married Adolescent Girls in India

“…Unmarried pregnant girl and or having child is almost out of usual marriage market. However, studies show that pre-marital sex is not completely absent in India (Shashikumar et al, 2012;Ghule & Donta, 2011;Sujay, 2009;Alexander et al, 2007;IIPS & Macro International, 2007). Further, an extensive review of literature found that, in developing countries abortion and abortion related morbidity are most common among young unmarried women (Parker, 2005), which also implies that pre-marital sex among unmarried women in developing countries is not absent.…”