Reasons for delaying or engaging in early sexual initiation among adolescents in Nigeria

Abstract

BackgroundAnnually, over 1 million births in Nigeria are to teenage mothers. Many of these pregnancies are unwanted and these mothers are also exposed to the risk of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Sexual abstinence is a critical preventative health strategy. Several quantitative studies in Nigeria have identified the correlates and determinants of early sex, yet few have explored in depth the underlying reasons for early sex. This paper explores both the key factors that motivate some unmarried young people to engage in early sex and reasons why some delay.MethodsThis qualitative study was based on data from 30 focus group discussions held with unmarried 14- to 19-year-olds in four geographically and culturally dispersed Nigerian states. Focus groups were stratified by sexual experience to capture variations among different subgroups.ResultsSeveral reasons for early premarital sex were identified. The “push” factors included situations where parents exposed young female adolescents to street trading. “Pull” factors, particularly for males, included the pervasive viewing of locally produced movies, peer pressure and, for females, transactional sex (where adolescent girls exchange sex for gifts, cash, or other favors). Also noted were overtly coercive factors, including rape. There were also myths and misconceptions that “justified” early sexual initiation. Reasons cited for delay included religious injunction against premarital sex; disease prevention (especially HIV/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome); fear of pregnancy, and linked to this, the fear of dropping out of school; and, for females, the fear of bringing shame to the family, which could lead to their inability to get a “good” husband in the future.ConclusionThe differences observed between sexually active and abstinent adolescents were that the latter were more confident, had greater determination, and, most important, deployed refusal skills to delay first sex. Health promoters need to focus attention on educating adolescents in the skills needed to delay sexual debut.

Premarital Sex, Safer Sex and Factors Influencing Premarital Sex Practices Among Senior Secondary School Students in Ebonyi Local Government Area of Ebonyi State Nigeria

“…The students gave reasons for engaging in their first sexual intercourse and the most common reason was being in love, followed by sexual desire and pressure from partner. A qualitative study using focus group discussion done in four states in Nigeria also showed peer pressure, sex for gift/cash/favour, coercion includes rape as reasons why adolescents engaged in their first sexual experience [4]. Our study shows that 6.5% of the students reported rape as a reason for the first episode of sex.…”

“…Elsewhere in Africa, the prevalence of premarital sex was found to be 32% among the young [3]. In 2008, 20% of women in Nigeria were already sexually active by age 15, and the median age for first sex stood at 17.7 years for women and 20.6 years for men [4]. Another study in South West Nigeria reported premarital sex prevalence of 28.3% among adolescents [5].…”

“…It is also referred to as safer sex or protected sex [4]. Safe sex is regarded as a harm reduction strategy aimed at reducing risk [8,9].…”

Asociación entre múltiples parejas sexuales y el inicio temprano de relaciones sexuales coitales en estudiantes universitarios

“…En otro estudio llevado a cabo en Estados Unidos el 25% de los jóvenes encuestados, tanto hombres como mujeres reportaron haber tenido relaciones sexuales a cambio de drogas (Friedman et al, 2008). Al comparar el grupo que inició temprano de RSC con esta práctica, los resultados muestran que hay asociación inversa entre ellos, coincidiendo con lo encontrado por Ankomah et al, (2011) (2016), quienes reportan también cifras más altas, ya que entre 60% a 80% de los estudiantes universitarios en Estados Unidos llevan a cabo sexo casual. Respecto a las posibles causas mencionan García y colaboradores (2012) que se debe a que en la actualidad llevar a cabo sexo casual es una norma cultural entre los jóvenes, que además se asocia con el inicio temprano de relaciones sexuales a corta edad y donde la causa o razón está relacionada también con la permisividad y la falta de lazos afectivos para llevar a cabo encuentros erótico-sexuales que cada vez son más frecuentes en hombres y mujeres.…”

Sexual Activity of the Youth Population in Malawi: The Emerging Health Care Scenario

“…This is probably due to the fact that they spent much of their time roaming around the community, an as a consequence they get involved in risky behaviours such as sex. Moreover, they spent more time viewing of locally produced movies, peer pressure, and involvement in transactional sex, whereby girls exchange sex for gifts, cash or other favours (Ankomah et al, 2011). For instance, 60% of girls and 53% of boys had experienced their sexual debut by the age of 18 (Limaye et al, 2012).…”