Circumcision Status and Time to Sexual Debut Among Youth in Sub-Saharan Africa: Evidence from Six Demographic and Health Surveys

Kangmennaang, Joseph; Osei, Lydia; Mkandawire, Paul; Luginaah, Isaac

doi:10.1007/s10461-015-1141-8

“…Sub-Saharan African youth continue to be a high-risk population for sexually transmitted infections (STIs), such as HIV/AIDS [ 1 – 3 ]. As a result, it is critical to prioritize this population's sexual and reproductive health, as they are the “window of hope” in the battle against the HIV/AIDS epidemic [ 2 , 4 ]. This awareness has informed policies aimed at shielding young people from new infections through behavioral improvement initiatives in some nations, such as Ghana [ 1 – 3 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Early Sexual Debut among Ghanaian Women: Correlates and Psychological Effect

Alhassan

¹

,

Abdulai

²

,

Alhassan

³

2021

BioMed Research International

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Early sexual initiation is linked to an increased risk of HIV/AIDS and other STIs among teenagers, as well as having multiple partners, not using contraception, unintended pregnancy, and illegal abortions. Aim. To identify the correlates and psychological effects of early sexual debut among not-in-union women in Ghana. A descriptive cross-sectional survey was used for this study using data from Ghana Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) for the year 2017/2018. SPSS software was used for data analysis, bivariate analysis for association was done using chi-square, and the prediction was done using a binary logistic regression model. The national prevalence of nonmarital early sexual initiation this current study recorded was 56.9%. Predictors variables were age, 15-24/≥35 years ( AOR = 1.51 , 1.28-1.78), ever educated ( AOR = 0.50 , 0.43-0.60), urban address ( AOR = 0.85 , 0.74-0.98), married/single ( AOR = 1.23 , 1.07-1.42), cohabitation/single ( AOR = 1.43 , 1.19-1.72), Greater Accra Region/Upper West Region ( AOR = 0.67 , 0.49-0.92), and health insurance ( AOR = 0.89 , 0.79-0.998). As the wealth indices of the woman decrease from the richest to poorest, the likelihood of early sexual debut inversely increases: fourth/richest ( AOR = 1.23 , 1.04-1.45), middle/richest ( AOR = 1.31 , 1.09-1.58), second/richest ( AOR = 1.38 , 1.11-1.72), and poorest/richest ( AOR = 1.44 , 1.12-1.86); use of the internet ( AOR = 0.58 , 0.50-068); substance use and alcohol ever use ( AOR = 1.32 , 1.17-1.49); cigarette ever use ( AOR = 2.58 , 1.44-4.64); contraceptive use ( AOR = 1.31 , 1.16-1.49); and ever heard of HIV ( AOR = 59 , 0.42-0.82). In conclusion, the prevalence of early sexual debut is still high in Ghana, especially among the northern regions. Several factors predicted early sex debut, and low life satisfaction and happiness were related to early sexual debut.

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“…[1][2][3] Thus, it is imperative to prioritize the sexual and reproductive health of this segment of the population as they are considered the "window of hope" in the fight against the HIV/AIDS epidemic. 2,4 In some countries including Ghana, this recognition has informed policies aimed at protecting young people from new infections through behavioral change programs. [1][2][3] One of these targeted behavioral change domains is early sexual debut.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Correlates of Early Sexual Debut Among Sexually Active Youth in Ghana

Asante

¹

,

Nketiah‐Amponsah

²

,

Andoh–Arthur

³

et al. 2018

Int Q Community Health Educ

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Using the 2014 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey, this study explores the correlates of early sexual debut among 2,746 (males = 670 and females = 2,076) sexually active youth aged 15 to 24 years in Ghana. The results indicate that males aged 15 to 19 years (odds ratio [ OR] = 8.84, p < .001) and who had basic education ( OR = 3.17, p < .001) were significantly more likely to initiate sexual debut early. Urban males who had used modern contraceptive ( OR = 0.35, p < .001) were significantly less likely to initiate early sexual debut. Meanwhile, females aged 15 to 19 years ( OR = 4.26, p < .001); who had used modern contraceptive ( OR = 1.99, p < .001); with no formal ( OR = 2.90, p < .001) or basic ( OR = 3.12, p < .001) education; with partial access to media ( OR = 1.58, p < .01); and from the Akans ( OR = 1.73, p < .001), Ewes ( OR = 1.92, p < .001), and other ethnic groups ( OR = 1.63, p < .001) were significantly more likely to initiate early sexual debut. However, employed females living in rural areas ( OR = 0.70, p < .01) and those with average ( OR = 0.54, p < .01) or rich ( OR = 0.51, p < .01) household living in urban areas were significantly less likely to initiate early sexual debut. Interventions and policies targeting those living in both rural and urban areas are therefore needed for adolescent males and females in their early teens before they start engaging in sexual intercourse.

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Residential Spaces and Timing of First Sexual Intercourse Among Never-Married Youths in Nigeria

Amoyaw

¹

,

Luginaah

²

2016

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Youths in sub-Saharan Africa who initiate sex at an early age tend to be more vulnerable to HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases because of the lack of accurate knowledge of preventive behaviors. Although sociocultural and economic factors associated with sexual initiation among youths have been studied extensively in Nigeria, little is known about the effect of place-based factors. Rural and urban disparities remain high in Nigeria, and these disparities are reinforced by stark regional inequalities between the north and south. Considering these underlying inequalities, we examined the extent to which rural and urban youths in northern and southern Nigeria differ with regard to the timing of sexual initiation using the 2013 Nigerian Demographic and Health Survey. Results from our event history analyses suggest that never-married male and female youths who lived in the urban north delayed their first sexual intercourse compared with their counterparts in the rural north, but those who lived in the rural south had their first sex earlier. Young males who lived in the urban south also experienced their first sex earlier than their counterparts in the rural north. Surprisingly, educated youths and those who had accurate knowledge about HIV/AIDS transmission experienced their first sex early. Clearly, the timing of sexual initiation among youths varies across different spatial and cultural contexts. Therefore, interventions aimed at discouraging early sexual initiation among young people in Nigeria may need to go beyond merely providing health information and services to addressing the livelihood needs of youths, especially those in rural settings.

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Circumcision Status and Time to Sexual Debut Among Youth in Sub-Saharan Africa: Evidence from Six Demographic and Health Surveys

Cited by 5 publications

References 35 publications

Early Sexual Debut among Ghanaian Women: Correlates and Psychological Effect

Early Sexual Debut among Ghanaian Women: Correlates and Psychological Effect

Correlates of Early Sexual Debut Among Sexually Active Youth in Ghana

Residential Spaces and Timing of First Sexual Intercourse Among Never-Married Youths in Nigeria

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