Older Male Sexual Partner as a Marker for Sexual Risk-taking in Adolescent Females in Nova Scotia

Background: This study was carried out to determine whether having first vaginal intercourse before 15 years of age is independently associated with sexual risk behaviours in Canadian female adolescents aged from 15 to 19 years. Methods: Self-completion surveys which included questions about sexual risk behaviours were carried out at three high schools in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, Canada, in May 2006. The survey also contained questions asking about socioeconomic status, substance use and depression. Associations of early intercourse with risk behaviours were assessed using unadjusted and adjusted logistic regression. Results: The survey response rate was 92.5%. Of the 797 females aged 15–19 years responding, 475 had had vaginal intercourse in the previous year; 132 of these (27.8%) had intercourse before the age of 15 years. In adjusted analysis, early vaginal intercourse was associated with not using a condom at last intercourse (odds ratio (OR) 2.22; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.40–3.54), unplanned intercourse in the previous year due to substance use (OR 2.45; 95% CI 1.49–4.04), having a casual partner at last intercourse (OR 2.10; 95% CI 1.23–3.56) and having three or more partners for vaginal intercourse in the previous year (OR 5.11; 95% CI 2.86–9.14). Conclusions: A history of having first intercourse before 15 years is associated with subsequent sexual risk-taking behaviours in adolescent females. These associations have clinical importance because the occurrence of early intercourse can alert health care providers to the possible presence of these risk behaviours. They also underscore the need to develop and assess programs which can delay the onset of sexual debut.

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Promoting the sexual and reproductive health of adolescent females in Ijebu-Ode, southwest, Nigeria: a study of sexual risk-taking

International Journal of Adolescent Medicine and Health ◽

10.1515/ijamh-2016-0021 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 29 (6) ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Victor Jide Animasahun ◽

Oluwafolahan Oluwagbemiga Sholeye ◽

Adebisi Dare Oduwole

Keyword(s):

Reproductive Health ◽

Sexual Risk ◽

Risk Taking ◽

Sexual And Reproductive Health ◽

Sexual Debut ◽

Adolescent Females ◽

Sexual Risk Taking ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Southwest Nigeria ◽

The Mean

Abstract Sexual risk-taking among adolescents, leads to several negative sexual and reproductive health outcomes such as unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections (STIs). This study assessed sexual risk behaviours and associated factors among in-school adolescent females in Ijebu-Ode, Nigeria. A cross-sectional study was carried out among 131 female adolescents selected via multi-stage sampling from senior secondary schools in Ijebu-Ode, southwest Nigeria. Data was collected using a validated, semi-structured, self-administered questionnaire and analysed using SPSS 17.0. Relevant descriptive and inferential statistics were calculated, with p set at <0.05. Participation was fully voluntary. The mean age of respondents was 16±1.3 years. Thirty-eight (14.5%) of respondents were sexually exposed with the mean age of sexual debut being 13.4±2.8 years. Participants with sexual exposure reported vaginal sex (89.5%), digital sex (36.8%) and oral sex (5.3%). A total of 42.1% had multiple sexual partners, 47.4% used condoms during sex. Only 13% of the respondents were engaged in sexual risk-taking. Factors associated with sexual risk-taking include: age, type of school, father being alive, having a boyfriend, age of boyfriend, low self-esteem and a history of non-consensual sex. Sexually-active adolescents engaged in risky sexual behaviours. Comprehensive sexuality education, behaviour change communication and adolescent-friendly services will adequately address the situation.

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Sex Differences in Associations of School Connectedness With Adolescent Sexual Risk-Taking in Nova Scotia, Canada

Journal of School Health ◽

10.1111/josh.12161 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 84 (6) ◽

pp. 387-395 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Donald B. Langille ◽

Mark Asbridge ◽

Sunday Azagba ◽

Gordon Flowerdew ◽

Daniel Rasic ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Sex Differences ◽

Nova Scotia ◽

Sexual Risk ◽

Risk Taking ◽

School Connectedness ◽

Sexual Risk Taking ◽

Adolescent Sexual Risk

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Associations of Risk of Depression with Sexual Risk Taking among Adolescents in Nova Scotia High Schools

The Canadian Journal of Psychiatry ◽

10.1177/070674371005500906 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 55 (9) ◽

pp. 577-585 ◽

Cited By ~ 25

Author(s):

Kevin Wilson ◽

Mark Asbridge ◽

Steve Kisely ◽

Don Langille

Keyword(s):

High Schools ◽

Nova Scotia ◽

Sexual Risk ◽

Risk Taking ◽

Sexual Risk Taking

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Associations of Risk of Depression with Sexual Risk Taking Among Adolescents in Nova Scotia High Schools

PsycEXTRA Dataset ◽

10.1037/e515152013-001 ◽

2009 ◽

Author(s):

Kevin Wilson ◽

Mark Asbridge ◽

Steve Kisley ◽

Don Langille ◽

Stephen Petersen

Keyword(s):

High Schools ◽

Nova Scotia ◽

Sexual Risk ◽

Risk Taking ◽

Sexual Risk Taking

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Community Context and Adolescent Sexual Risk-taking: Planning for Action in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia

PsycEXTRA Dataset ◽

10.1037/e509432013-001 ◽

2011 ◽

Author(s):

Donald Langille ◽

Doris Landry ◽

Brent Jamieson

Keyword(s):

Nova Scotia ◽

Sexual Risk ◽

Risk Taking ◽

Community Context ◽

Sexual Risk Taking ◽

Adolescent Sexual Risk

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Risk of depression and multiple sexual risk-taking behaviours in adolescents in Nova Scotia, Canada

Sexual Health ◽

10.1071/sh11029 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 9 (3) ◽

pp. 254 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Don Langille ◽

Mark Asbridge ◽

Steve Kisely ◽

Kevin Wilson

Keyword(s):

Social Capital ◽

High School Students ◽

Nova Scotia ◽

Sexual Risk ◽

Risk Taking ◽

Sexual Risk Taking ◽

Risk Behaviours ◽

School Students ◽

Sexual Risks ◽

Sexual Risk Behaviours

Background Although depression is known to be associated with adolescent sexual risk-taking, Canadian studies are few, many have lacked appropriate controls and none has examined the associations of depression with multiple sexual risk-taking behaviours. We tested associations between multiple sexual risk-taking and risk of depression, controlling for other factors, including social capital, in high school students in Nova Scotia, Canada. Methods: We surveyed sexually active male (n = 418) and female (n = 467) adolescents. Participants were asked about their risk of depression, perceptions of social capital, substance use, sociodemographic factors and sexual behaviours. Multinomial logistic regressions were used to determine associations of risk of depression with various levels of sexual risk-taking. Results: In unadjusted models, risk of depression was associated with two or more v. no sexual risk behaviours among both males and females. After controlling for other variables, risk of depression remained significantly associated with two or more sexual risks v. no risks for both females and males (relative risk ratios (RRR) of 2.5; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.4–4.5 and 3.5; 95% CI 1.6–7.82 respectively) and for one v. no risks for females (RRR = 1.9; 95% CI 1.1–3.5). One measure of social capital was associated with multiple risks in females. Conclusions: The consistent, independent associations of risk of depression with multiple sexual risks should lead health care workers interacting with adolescents to ask about sexual risk behaviours among patients with symptoms of depression. Alternatively, patients who engage in sexual risk-taking might be screened for depression.

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