Early Age at First Intercourse and Subsequent Gaps in Contraceptive Use

Abstract

Background: Sexual debut before age 15 years has been associated with increased sexual risk behaviors among teens, but little is known about its effects beyond adolescence. This study examines the relationship between the age at first intercourse and subsequent contraceptive gaps. Methods: We identified 3538 sexually active, fertile women participants from the 2006-2008 National Survey of Family Growth. Women were classified as consistent contraceptive users or inconsistent/nonusers. Age at first intercourse with a man was determined by self-report and categorized as < 15, 15-17, and ‡ 18 years. Results: Twenty-three percent reported gaps in contraceptive use in the year prior to interview. Compared with women who were 18 or older at first intercourse, women who were < 15 years of age at the time of first intercourse were nearly two times as likely to report a gap in contraceptive use (adjusted odds ratio: 1.93; 95% confidence interval: 1.23-3.00). Conclusions: Age at first intercourse is associated with inconsistent or nonuse of contraceptives in later life. Primary prevention efforts should be established to empower girls to make informed and autonomous decisions about sexual debut. Personalized contraceptive counseling has been demonstrated as being effective in increasing contraceptive use and compliance and should be offered to all women, with particular focus on women who report an early age at first intercourse or other factors associated with inconsistent contraceptive use.

Childhood Behavior Problems and Age at First Sexual Intercourse: A Prospective Birth Cohort Study

“…However, young age at first sexual intercourse (FSI) has been identified as an important predictor of a range of risky behaviors and adverse outcomes in boys and in girls. Earlier first sexual intercourse (FSI) is associated with unprotected intercourse, 1 inconsistent contraceptive use, 2 and multiple partners and with negative social and health outcomes, including partner violence, 3 lower educational attainment, 4,5 unintended pregnancy, teenage parenting, 6 and sexually transmitted infection. 7,8 Definitions of "early" FSI have varied, and include age 15 years and younger 2,4,9 or 16 years and younger, 7,10 or quartiles or tertiles of age at FSI in a study population.…”

“…28,29 In brief, the cohort was recruited during pregnancy from the single tertiary-catchment maternity hospital in Western Australia, with clinical and questionnaire data collected at 18 and 34 weeks' gestation. Study children and their families were then followed up at ages 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 10, 14, and 17 years with extensive clinical and questionnaire data collected, including behavioral assessments (2,5,8,10,14, and 17 years), and sexual behavior (17 years). Informed consent was obtained at the time of study enrolment and at every subsequent follow-up.…”

Age at Menarche and Age at First Sexual Intercourse: A Prospective Cohort Study

“…22,23 Exploring the mediators of young age at FSI is of clinical and social significance. Younger age at FSI is associated with sexual risk-taking behaviors, including unprotected intercourse, 24 inconsistent contraceptive use, 25 and multiple partners, 26 and with a variety of negative outcomes, including partner violence, 27 lower educational attainment, 28,29 unintended pregnancy, 30 adolescent pregnancy or birth, 31,32 and sexually transmitted infection. [33][34][35] If girls with younger AAM are at risk for younger age at FSI, they may be a target for educational or other preventive interventions.…”

The Responsibility of Counselor and Education in Millennium Era

“…Menikah di usia yang masih muda akan dihadapkan pada masalah dalam kehidupan keluarga karena belum dicapainya kematangan psikologis dan kesiapan yang optimal dari segi fisik, mental, sosial dan ekonomi serta budaya (Berger & Langton, 2011;Fletcher & Wolfe, 2012;Guzzo, 2014;Magnusson, Masho, & Lapane, 2012;Settersten Jr & Ray, 2010). Temuan penelitian Opi Andriani (2016) yang berjudul Masalah-masalah yang Dialami Pasangan Menikah di Usia Muda dalam Mewujudkan Keluarga Harmonis menunjukkan bahwa masalah yang banyak dialami pasangan yang menikah di usia muda adalah: 1) masalah keadaan dalam keluarga terutama sering kecewa terhadap tingkah laku pasangan (71,74%), 2) masalah pekerjaan terutama 65,22% belum mengetahui kemampuan diri sendiri sehubungan dengan jenis pekerjaan, 3) masalah hubungan seksual terutama kurang mendapatkan kenikmatan dalam berhubungan seksual (69,57%), 4) masalah keadaan diri pribadi terutama 71,74% mengalami mudah marah ketika keinginan tidak dipenuhi pasangan, 5) masalah ekonomi dan keuangan terutama 73,91% mengalami ekonomi semakin sulit, 6) masalah agama, nilai dan moral terutama masalah agama seperti 63,04% kurang pehaman terhadap cara beribadah, 7) masalah hubungan sosial kemasyarakatan terutama 38,80% mudah berprasangka terhadap orang lain.…”