The interactive effect of gender, residence, and socioeconomic status on early sexual debut among sexually active young adults in Ghana

Using the 2014 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey, this study explores the correlates of early sexual debut among 2,746 (males = 670 and females = 2,076) sexually active youth aged 15 to 24 years in Ghana. The results indicate that males aged 15 to 19 years (odds ratio [ OR] = 8.84, p < .001) and who had basic education ( OR = 3.17, p < .001) were significantly more likely to initiate sexual debut early. Urban males who had used modern contraceptive ( OR = 0.35, p < .001) were significantly less likely to initiate early sexual debut. Meanwhile, females aged 15 to 19 years ( OR = 4.26, p < .001); who had used modern contraceptive ( OR = 1.99, p < .001); with no formal ( OR = 2.90, p < .001) or basic ( OR = 3.12, p < .001) education; with partial access to media ( OR = 1.58, p < .01); and from the Akans ( OR = 1.73, p < .001), Ewes ( OR = 1.92, p < .001), and other ethnic groups ( OR = 1.63, p < .001) were significantly more likely to initiate early sexual debut. However, employed females living in rural areas ( OR = 0.70, p < .01) and those with average ( OR = 0.54, p < .01) or rich ( OR = 0.51, p < .01) household living in urban areas were significantly less likely to initiate early sexual debut. Interventions and policies targeting those living in both rural and urban areas are therefore needed for adolescent males and females in their early teens before they start engaging in sexual intercourse.

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Risky sexual behaviours among young adults attending Higher Learning Institutions in Mbeya, Tanzania: implications for STIs and HIV preventive programs

AAS Open Research ◽

10.12688/aasopenres.13123.1 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 3 ◽

pp. 41

Author(s):

Ruby Doryn Mcharo ◽

Willyhelmina Olomi ◽

Philippe Mayaud ◽

Sia E. Msuya

Keyword(s):

Young Adults ◽

High Risk ◽

Condom Use ◽

Sexual Debut ◽

Higher Learning ◽

Consistent Condom ◽

Sexually Active ◽

Sexual Behaviours ◽

Risky Sexual Behaviours ◽

Learning Institutions

Background: High-risk sexual behaviours (HRSBs) among young adults are a key risk for Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs), HIV and unplanned pregnancies. The World Health Organization has identified the 15-24 year age-group as high-risk for STIs. Students at Higher Learning Institutions (HLIs) may be at higher risk because they are free of immediate parental supervision, a transient migratory population, and probably at peak years of sexual activity. Here, we describe risky sexual behaviours and preventive practices among young adults attending HLIs in Mbeya, Tanzania. Methods: Cross-sectional study was conducted from March 2019 to January 2020 among students aged 18-24 years enrolled in HLIs within Mbeya. A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect information on sexual health education, activity, behaviour and STI knowledge. Results: 504 students were enrolled; mean age of 21.5 (SD 1.74) years. 377 (74.8%) students were sexually active. Mean age of first sexual encounter was 18.4 years and 11.6% reported their sexual debut was <15 years. A higher proportion of male students (59.7%) reported their sexual debut with non-steady partners compared with female students (40.9%). Lack of condom use at sexual debut was reported by 43.3% of sexually active students. Consistent condom use during the past 4-weeks was reported at 23.3% and 16.9% among men and women, respectively. Almost 1 in 10 students reported being forced into having sex by someone they were dating. Sex under the influence of alcohol was reported by 25.5% of the students. Nearly 7 in 10 (77%) students had heard of STIs, but only 15% were aware STIs could be asymptomatic. Conclusion: STI prevention programs need to recognize young adults in HLIs as an at-risk population. HLIs must advocate targeted messages to minimize risks to acquiring STIs, offer counselling and support for those experiencing sexual violence, and promote condom use and safer-sex negotiation skills.

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Correlates of Early Sexual Debut and Its Associated STI/HIV Risk Factors among Sexually Active Youths in Malawi

Journal of Asian and African Studies ◽

10.1177/0021909616654300 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 52 (8) ◽

pp. 1213-1224 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Wilson C Ningpuanyeh ◽

A Sathiya Susuman

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Sexual Debut ◽

Risk Group ◽

Northern Region ◽

Sexually Active ◽

Demographic Health Survey ◽

Chi Square ◽

Early Sexual Debut ◽

Sexually Transmitted ◽

Young Females

This study explores the correlates of early sexual debut and risk factors of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among the youth in Malawi. Data was obtained from the Malawi Demographic Health Survey 2010. Out of a sample of 2987 males and 9559 females aged 15–24 years, 1405 males and 5217 females were considered. Chi-square and multivariate analysis was performed and findings presented by gender. The results indicate that females aged 15–19 years (OR=4.18), who were Muslims (OR=1.42), with no education (OR=3.99), were significantly more likely to initiate sexual debut early. Meanwhile, males aged 15–19 years (OR=3.50), from the northern region (OR=2.35) and of the Chewa ethnic group (OR=1.45) were significantly more likely to initiate sexual debut early. Muslims males (OR=0.57), from the poorest (OR=0.69) households were significantly less likely to initiate sexual debut early. Females who initiate sex earlier form a distinct risk group in this study. Specific intervention is therefore needed for young females in their early teen years before they initiate sexual debut.

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Social Ecological Predictors of Risky Sexual Behavior Among Young Adults

Journal of Social, Behavioral, and Health Sciences ◽

10.5590/jsbhs.2019.13.1.01 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 13 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Maureen Muchimba

Keyword(s):

Young Adults ◽

Sexual Behavior ◽

Young Adulthood ◽

Risky Sexual Behavior ◽

School Connectedness ◽

Sexual Debut ◽

Sexual Partners ◽

Early Sexual Debut ◽

Social Ecological ◽

Ecological Predictors

Most studies on sexual behavior outcomes are restricted to adolescents. However, rates of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are highest among young adults. This study examined social–ecological predictors in adolescence that predict risky sexual behavior in young adulthood. Using longitudinal data, logistic regression was used to determine social–ecological factors that predict early sexual debut and a high number of lifetime sexual partners among 3,109 young adults. Risk-taking was associated with early sexual debut and a high number of lifetime sexual partners. Father–child connectedness decreased the odds of early sexual debut and a high number of lifetime sexual. School connectedness also decreased the odds of early sexual debut and a high number of lifetime sexual. There was no relationship between mother–child connectedness and the risky sexual behavior. The influence of childhood factors may encompass young adulthood. Personality traits could be used by programs aimed at preventing STD–related behaviors to characterize those at higher risk for risky sexual behavior. These programs also could be more effective by developing approaches that foster parent–child connectedness, and by gaining a greater understanding of the mechanisms through which school connectedness protects against risky sexual behavior, which could decrease the prevalence of risky sexual behaviors, and subsequently lower the rates of STDs among young adults.

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The effects of sleep deprivation on the processing of emotional facial expressions in young adults with and without ADHD

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-021-93641-7 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Ami Cohen ◽

Kfir Asraf ◽

Ivgeny Saveliev ◽

Orrie Dan ◽

Iris Haimov

Keyword(s):

Young Adults ◽

Sleep Deprivation ◽

Facial Expressions ◽

Interactive Effect ◽

Control Group ◽

Experimental Session ◽

Poor Sleep ◽

Adhd Group ◽

Emotional Facial Expressions ◽

Oddball Task

AbstractThe ability to recognize emotions from facial expressions is essential to the development of complex social cognition behaviors, and impairments in this ability are associated with poor social competence. This study aimed to examine the effects of sleep deprivation on the processing of emotional facial expressions and nonfacial stimuli in young adults with and without attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Thirty-five men (mean age 25.4) with (n = 19) and without (n = 16) ADHD participated in the study. During the five days preceding the experimental session, the participants were required to sleep at least seven hours per night (23:00/24:00–7:00/9:00) and their sleep was monitored via actigraphy. On the morning of the experimental session, the participants completed a 4-stimulus visual oddball task combining facial and nonfacial stimuli, and repeated it after 25 h of sustained wakefulness. At baseline, both study groups had poorer performance in response to facial rather than non-facial target stimuli on all indices of the oddball task, with no differences between the groups. Following sleep deprivation, rates of omission errors, commission errors and reaction time variability increased significantly in the ADHD group but not in the control group. Time and target type (face/non-face) did not have an interactive effect on any indices of the oddball task. Young adults with ADHD are more sensitive to the negative effects of sleep deprivation on attentional processes, including those related to the processing of emotional facial expressions. As poor sleep and excessive daytime sleepiness are common in individuals with ADHD, it is feasible that poor sleep quality and quantity play an important role in cognitive functioning deficits, including the processing of emotional facial expressions that are associated with ADHD.

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P2-S1.09 Associations between early sexual debut and two types of sexual risk behaviour in Nova Scotia adolescents

Sexually Transmitted Infections ◽

10.1136/sextrans-2011-050108.287 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 87 (Suppl 1) ◽

pp. A223-A223

Author(s):

D. Langille ◽

P. Andreou ◽

K. Wilson

Keyword(s):

Nova Scotia ◽

Sexual Risk ◽

Sexual Debut ◽

Risk Behaviour ◽

Sexual Risk Behaviour ◽

Early Sexual Debut

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A follow-up study of adolescent girls with early sexual debut in combination with gynecological problems

Journal of Psychosomatic Obstetrics & Gynecology ◽

10.3109/01674829809048500 ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 19 (2) ◽

pp. 70-83 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

C. Magnusson

Keyword(s):

Adolescent Girls ◽

Sexual Debut ◽

Early Sexual Debut ◽

Follow Up Study

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Changes in cannabis, tobacco, and alcohol use among sexually active female adolescents and young adults over a twelve-year period ending in 2019

Addictive Behaviors ◽

10.1016/j.addbeh.2021.106994 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 106994

Author(s):

Kathleen Shyhalla ◽

Danielle M. Smith ◽

Angela Diaz ◽

Anne Nucci-Sack ◽

Mary Guillot ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Young Adults ◽

Alcohol Use ◽

Adolescents And Young Adults ◽

Female Adolescents ◽

Sexually Active

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Increases in both HIV and syphilis among men who have sex with men in Vietnam: Urgent need for comprehensive responses

International Journal of STD & AIDS ◽

10.1177/09564624211036421 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 095646242110364

Author(s):

Thuong V Nguyen ◽

Hau P Tran ◽

Nghia V Khuu ◽

Phuc D Nguyen ◽

Tu N Le ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Sexual Debut ◽

Temporal Trends ◽

Consistent Condom ◽

Test Results ◽

Syphilis Infection ◽

Early Sexual Debut ◽

Sti Prevention ◽

Factors Associated ◽

Hiv Test ◽

Sex With Men

The objective of this study was to determine the temporal trends and factors associated with HIV and syphilis infection among men who have sex with men (MSM) in southern Vietnam. Data from the 2014–2018 national HIV sentinel surveillance of MSM aged 16 years or older were collected from three provinces, including An Giang ( N = 761), Can Tho ( N = 900), and Ho Chi Minh City ( N = 1426), and examined for changes in prevalence rates of HIV and syphilis and risk behaviors over time. Multivariate logistic regression was performed to assess the trends and correlates of HIV and syphilis infections among MSM. There were upward trends for HIV (9.5% in 2014 to 14.2% in 2018, p-trend<0.01), syphilis (4.9% in 2014 to 8.0% 2018, p-trend<0.01), and HIV/syphilis co-infection (1.9% in 2014 to 3.1% in 2018, p-trend=0.01). Factors associated with HIV infection included place of residence, early sexual debut, consistent condom use and not engaging in anal sex during the past month, not knowing one’s HIV test results, having ever injected drugs, and having active syphilis. Additionally, early sexual debut and being HIV positive were associated with syphilis infection. Rising prevalences of these infections among MSM suggests an urgent need for comprehensive intervention packages for HIV/STI prevention.

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