Multiple sexual partnership among adolescent boys and young men in Ghana: analysis of the 2003–2014 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey

Abstract

Background Multiple sexual partnership (MSP) is a major cause of HIV/AIDS epidemic and unplanned pregnancies in sub-Saharan Africa. We investigate how individual, household, interpersonal, community and structural factors correlate with multiple sexual partnership of adolescent boys and young men in Ghana. Methods We pooled secondary data from the 2003, 2008 and 2014 Ghana Demographic and Health Surveys (GDHS). Analytic sample of 1422 males aged 15–24 years who are sexually active and never married were used for the study. The outcome variable for the study was two or more sexual partners in the last 12 months preceding the survey. Five models were fitted using multilevel mixed effects logistic regression to identify predictors of multiple sexual partners. Results were presented using adjusted odds ratios (ORadj) with its corresponding 95% confidence interval. Results The pooled data prevalence of multiple sexual partnership was 28.1%, with 18.7%, 30.0% and 33.3% of adolescent boys and young men involved in multiple sexual partnerships in 2003, 2008 and 2014, respectively. Results of the study showed that young men aged 20–24 years [ORadj = 1.39, 95% CI = 1.01–1.91], being from household with richest wealth index [ORadj = 1.76, 95% CI = 1.01–3.06] and those with secondary/higher education [ORadj = 2.94, 95% CI = 1.44–6.06] were more likely to have multiple sexual partners. On the other hand, those who delayed their first sex [ORadj = 0.45, 95% CI = 0.29–0.70] and those currently using modern contraceptive methods [ORadj = 0.37, 95% CI = 0.28–0.50] were less likely to have multiple sexual partners. Conclusion The findings provide support for the social ecological argument that sexual health behaviours are influenced by individual, interpersonal, community and contextual characteristics. Future policies and interventions seeking to address the increasing prevalence of multiple sexual partnerships among adolescent boys and young men should take into consideration family planning programmes and sexual education in affluent communities, secondary and higher institutions.

Multi-Dimensional Predictors of HIV PrEP Knowledge, Acceptability and HIV Testing Among Adolescents and Young Adult Men in Ghana: Evidence from the 2022 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey

“…Among men in Sub-Saharan Africa, key barriers against male HIV testing have been closely associated with a lack of HIV knowledge, HIV clinic location or practices, con dentiality issues, fear of doing a HIV test and discovering a positive status (16). Overall, previous research in Ghana indicates that AYA possessing secondary or higher education, or emanating from the richest wealth status had greater odds of engaging in multiple sexual partnerships than those who were poor with primary or no education (17). Similarly, age and marital status were signi cantly associated with HIV testing among Ghanian AYA involved in another study (18).…”

“…Moreover, the study's framework suggests it lacks the capacity to conclusively establish or imply a causal connection between HIV PrEP, acceptance of HIV PrEP, HIV testing, and socio-demographic predictors because of its crosssectional design. Given that this sample utilized for this study were derived from the larger men's dataset (ages 15-59) that used general men's questionnaire, the item pool in the measure may have been too broad or rigorous or not tailored speci cally for the youngest group (ages [15][16][17][18][19] which may impact their responses. Likewise, the non-inclusion of female AYA in Ghana denies the study the gender implications and nuances that may have been crucial to comprehensively evaluate sexual reproductive health outcomes among AYAs in Ghana for both genders.…”

‘Baby mamas’ in Urban Ghana: an exploratory qualitative study on the factors influencing serial fathering among men in Accra, Ghana

“…According to Yeboah et al [ 4 ] and Nyarko and Potter [ 5 ], serial fathering is on the rise regardless of whether or not a man has lost his spouse. Throughout many parts of the world, divorce and having many children have been linked to having multiple fathers [ 6 ].…”

HIV prevalence and associated factors among adolescent boys and young men in South Africa, 2017

“…8, 21–23 Little is known about the sexual partnerships of ABYM, including age-disparate sexual partnerships, although we know that multiple concurrent sexual partnerships are common. 24, 25…”

“…8,[21][22][23] Little is known about the sexual partnerships of ABYM, including agedisparate sexual partnerships, although we know that multiple concurrent sexual partnerships are common. 24,25 A South African study on the trends and correlates of HIV prevalence among adolescents aged 12-19 years in different contexts and at various stages of the epidemic examined the association between risky sexual behaviours such as early sexual debut, inconsistent condom use, substance use (alcohol and drug use), peer pressure, and sensation-seeking behaviours and HIV prevalence. 26 Results from this study indicated a statistically significant change in HIV prevalence among adolescent males over time.…”