Sexually Transmitted Infections and First Sexual Intercourse Age in Adolescents: The Nationwide Retrospective Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Introduction Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are major causes of medical and psychological problems globally, while adolescents in South Korea have recently shown rapid changes in sexual behaviors. Aims We aimed to examine the association between the age of first sexual intercourse and the experience of STIs among adolescents. Additionally, in which specific time period would more likely to get infected from sexual intercourse. Methods We used data from the 2007–2013 Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey. Only adolescents with sexual intercourse experience (N = 22,381) were included, and multiple logistic regression analysis was performed. Main Outcome Measures One dichotomized measure and one continuous measure were assessed: (i) STIs experience (defined as having had STIs); and (ii) association between STIs experience and absolute age gap (defined as temporal differences between secondary sexual character emergence age and first sexual intercourse age). Results Approximately 7.4% of boys and 7.5% of girls reported had STI. For both boys and girls, the chance of experiencing STIs increased as the age of first sexual intercourse decreased (boys: before elementary school [age 7 or under]: odds ratio [OR] = 10.81, first grade [age 7 or 8]: OR = 4.44, second grade [age 8 or 9]: OR = 8.90, fourth grade [age 10 or 11]: OR = 7.20, ninth grade [age 15 or 16]: OR = 2.31; girls: before elementary school: OR = 18.09, first grade: OR = 7.26, second grade: OR = 7.12, fourth grade: OR = 8.93, ninth grade: OR = 2.74). The association between the absolute age gap and STI experience was examined additionally (boys: OR = 0.93, girls: OR = 0.87). Conclusions This study shows that earlier initiation of sexual intercourse increases the odds of experiencing STIs. Also as the age gap gets shorter, the odds of experiencing STIs increase. Our study suggests that it is important to consider the time period of first sexual intercourse and to reinforce a monitoring system along with the development of other preventive strategies.

Edad de inicio sexual y asociación a variables de salud sexual y violencia en la relación de pareja en adolescentes chilenos.

“…Estos resultados difieren de lo reportado en una revisión sistemática que refiere que las adolescentes con inicio sexual temprano presentan más comportamientos sexuales de riesgo, tales como mayor cantidad de parejas sexuales e infecciones de transmisión sexual, el no uso de anticoncepción, tener o repetir un embarazo a temprana edad 3 . El usar o no usar un método anticonceptivo no presentó diferencias según la edad de inicio de la actividad sexual; sin embargo, las adolescentes con inicio sexual temprano aumenta casi dos veces el riesgo de un embarazo no planificado, lo que concuerda con otros estudios 3,4,5,6 . Esto hace pensar que si bien las adolescentes que inician relaciones sexuales de forma temprana lo hacen aparentemente usando algún anticonceptivo, estos no serían lo suficientemente efectivos.…”

“…3,4,5,6 . Algunos estudios han determinado como inicio sexual coital, vaginal o anal temprano o precoz, aquel que ocurre antes de los 14 o 15 años, sin haber un consenso 3,4 .…”

Sexual Risk Behaviour and Sexually Transmitted Infections in Adolescents Attending Sti Clinic

“…(7) The earlier the age of first sexual debut, the chance of experiencing STI is more. (8) In a study from Humsafar Trust Bombay, it is found that the mean age of first sexual intercourse among MSM is around 24.8 years. (4) Adolescents with STI have an increased risk of subsequent HIV infection, when compared to adolescents without STI.…”

Social determinants of health and vulnerabilities to sexually transmitted infections in adolescents

“…Sexual intercourses significantly increase the vulnerability to Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) in adolescence, being this prevalence of 7.4% in male and 7.5% female adolescents, from 2007 to 2013 in South Korea, a country considered developed in relation to Brazil (2) .…”