Correlates of Early Sexual Debut Among Sexually Active Youth in Ghana

Abdulai

BioMed Research International

2021

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.

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Early Sexual Debut among Ghanaian Women: Correlates and Psychological Effect

Abdulai

BioMed Research International

2021

Journal of Asian and African Studies

“…Other studies have suggested exposure to media as an important factor in predicting adolescents' and young people's sexual and reproductive behaviour (Asante et al, 2018;Barber and Axinn, 2004;Cheng, 2011;Gupta et al, 2003;Wado et al, 2019). Growing evidence has revealed that young people need accurate information concerning their reproductive behaviour (Barber and Axinn, 2004;Cheng, 2011;Gupta et al, 2003).…”

Section: Study Findings In Relation To Other Studiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Early Marriage and Correlates among Young Women in Sub-Saharan African Countries

Elengemoke

Susuman

2020

Though several countries have adopted the sexual violence law which criminalizes child marriage, the practice of early marriage persists in Sub-Saharan Africa. This paper examined the socio-economic and demographic determinants of early marriage among young women in four Sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries, namely Niger, Democratic Republic of Congo, Mali and Malawi. Descriptive and multivariate analyses were performed to show that young women without formal education have 1.62, 1.59, 1.55 and 2.08 times more risk of early union than their secondary or higher educated counterparts. The study recommends the implementation of a universal, free and compulsory basic education in SSA countries.

“…It is however not known how the age of sexual debut in males influences their partnering patterns but it could partly be because of the fact that it influences the satisfaction derived from the intimate relationships Harden, Quinn & Tucker-Drob, [20], safe attachments (Belsky, Houts & Fearon, 2010) and regulation of self Moffitt, Arseneault & Caspi, [21]. Gender has been identified as one of the major correlates of sexual initiation Asante, Nketiah-Amponsah, Andor-Arthur, Boafor & Amponsah, [22] and is one of the factors responsible for the high prevalence of HIV among young people Matson, Beguy & Kabiru, [23] since those that debut sexual activity at a very young age are more likely to have several sexual partners at the same time, engage in commercial sex and consequently catch HIV, among other STDs Matson, Beguy & Kabiru, [23]; Onsomu, Duren-Winfield & Harwell, [24]. Early sex debut impacts on school outcomes and a rise in unintended pregnancies Peltzer, [25].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Role of Gender, Age and Religion in Explaining the Variations in Selected Sexual Experiences of University Teacher-Trainees in Uganda and Tanzania

Kobusingye

Kibanja

2020

JESBS

After a realisation that there are scanty studies conducted on university teachers trainees’ sexual experiences and how these experiences are shaped by gender, age and religion, this study set out to conduct survey on final/third year university teacher-trainees in two selected teacher training university colleges, one in Uganda and another in Tanzania, with the purpose of examining the role of gender, age and religion in explaining the variations in age of first sexual experience and number of both past and current sexual partners among the university teacher-trainees. The purely quantitative study was conducted on a population of 557 teacher-trainees who were selected that the students studied were drawn from a sample taken from a population using systematic random sampling. The teacher-trainees were final/third year students at both Makerere University’s College of Education and External Studies (MUK) and University of Dar es Salaam’s Constituent College of Education known as Dar es Salaam University College of Education (UDSM). The observed scores and resultant variations revealed that the variation in age of first sexual experience among male and female and male teacher trainees was non-significant while the variation in number of both past and current sexual partners among the two genders was significant. The variation in age of first sexual experience among the age groups was significant while the variation in number of both past and current sexual partners among the existing age groups was non-significant. The variation in age of first sexual experience, number of past and current sexual partners among the existing religions was non-significant all through. Basing on these findings therefore, it is recommended that sex education and policies be introduced in high institutions of learning while stressing education on contraception and messages about sex. Religious leaders too should participate in teaching against behaviours that lead to consequences of early sex debut and existence of concurrent multiple sexual partners among young people.