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PurposeUnderstanding the timing of sexual debut is critical for informing sexual and reproductive health interventions. We investigated sexual behavior and early sexual debut among Rwandan youth.MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional analysis of data from a cluster-randomized trial with 6079 students ages 12-19 years in Rwanda. We examined predictors of early sexual debut (

Abstract Introduction Reproductive health events have changed fertility and family planning needs, depicting the changing life patterns of women and the population to which they belong. Understanding the pattern at which these events occur helps in understanding the fertility pattern, family formation and the idea about health essential needs for women. This paper attempts to see the variation in reproductive events (first cohabitation, first sex and first birth) over three decades and also to see potential contributing factors among the reproductive age group of women using secondary data from Data Source: All rounds of the National Family Health Survey (1992-93 to 2019–2021) have been utilized. Methods and Results Cox Proportional Hazard Model illustrates that all regions have initiated their first birth later than women who belong to the east region similar pattern has been obtained for first cohabitation and first sex except for the central region. Multiple Classification Analysis (MCA) depicts the increasing pattern in the predicted mean age at first cohabitation, sex and birth for all demographic characteristics; the highest increment was found in SC women, Uneducated women and Muslim women. Kaplan Meier Curve demonstrates that women with no education, primary or secondary education are shifting towards higher educated women. Most importantly, the results of the multivariate decomposition analysis (MDA) revealed that education played the largest contribution among the compositional factors in the overall increase in mean ages at key reproductive events. Conclusions Though reproductive health has long been essential in women’s lives, they are still very confined to specific domains. Over time the government has formulated several proper legislative measures relating to various domains of reproductive events. However, given that the large size and heterogeneity in social and cultural norms result in changing ideas and choices regarding the initiation of reproductive events, national policy formulation needs to be improved or amended.

Adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) are disproportionately affected by STIs. Observation of life course events can describe behavioral and biological factors associated with STI risk. Sexually inexperienced AGYW aged 16–20 years in Kenya were followed for five years. Quarterly visits assessed for C. trachomatis (CT), N. gonorrhea (GC), and T. vaginalis (TV), bacterial vaginosis (BV), HSV-2, and HIV. Sexual activity was self-reported but amended if incongruent with results from STI, pregnancy, or any other testing. Cox regression and Generalized Estimating Equation models were used to determine hazard ratios (HRs) and relative risks (RRs) of STI. During follow-up, 293 of 400 participants reported sex, 163 AGYW experienced an STI, and 72 participants had multiple STIs. Among 163 participants that experienced an STI, there were a total of 259 visits where STIs were detected, 78% (n = 201) of which included CT. Cox regression found participants with BV had over two-fold higher risk of first STI acquisition (adjusted hazard ratio (aHR): 2.35; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.43–3.88; p =.001). Increased risk for first STI episode was associated with a new partner (aHR: 3.16; 95% CI 1.59–6.28; p =.001). AGYW who did not disclose sexual activity had the highest risk (aHR: 3.60; 95% CI 1.93–6.70; p <.001). Condom use was low, with 21% reporting condom use with sex. GEE analysis of all STIs including incident, prevalent, and recurrent, confirmed these risk factors. During the critical years after first sex, AGYW with BV, new sexual partners, and those who did not disclose sexual activity were at highest risk for STI events, especially CT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Reproductive health events have changed fertility and family planning needs, depicting the changing life patterns of women and the population to which they belong. Understanding the pattern at which these events occur helps in understanding the fertility pattern, family formation and the idea about health essential needs for women. This paper attempts to see the variation in reproductive events (first cohabitation, first sex and first birth) over three decades and also to see potential contributing factors among the reproductive age group of women using secondary data from Data Source: All rounds of the National Family Health Survey (1992-93 to 2019–2021) have been utilized. Methods and Results: Cox Proportional Hazard Model illustrates that all regions have initiated their first birth later than women who belong to the east region similar pattern has been obtained for first cohabitation and first sex except for the central region. Multiple Classification Analysis (MCA) depicts the increasing pattern in the predicted mean age at first cohabitation, sex and birth for all demographic characteristics; the highest increment was found in SC women, Uneducated women and Muslim women. Kaplan Meier Curve demonstrates that women with no education, primary or secondary education are shifting towards higher educated women. Most importantly, the results of the multivariate decomposition analysis (MDA) revealed that education played the largest contribution among the compositional factors in the overall increase in mean ages at key reproductive events. Conclusions: Though reproductive health has long been essential in women’s lives, they are still very confined to specific domains. Over time the government has formulated several proper legislative measures relating to various domains of reproductive events. However, given that the large size and heterogeneity in social and cultural norms result in changing ideas and choices regarding the initiation of reproductive events, national policy formulation needs to be improved or amended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

First sex is most often defined by first penile-vaginal intercourse (PVI) among cisgender heterosexual individuals or first anal intercourse among cisgender men who have sex with men. The importance given to penetration and PVI as the markers of first sex has contributed to the invisibility of women who have sex with women's (WSW) sexualities. Eighty-four WSW aged 16 to 25 years (M = 21.96 years, SD = 2.44; 79% cisgender) completed an online survey wherein they categorized a series of partnered behaviours as either (1) non-sexual, non-markers of first sex; (2) sexual, but non-markers of first sex; or (3) sexual and markers of first sex. Results from a non-linear principal component analysis show that there is no equivalent to PVI for first sex among WSW: direct anal or genital stimulations (either given or received; internal [e.g., vaginal, anal] or external [e.g., clitoral, vulvar]; from digital or oral stimulation, or from using toys) are categorized as markers of first sex. Behaviours such as heavy petting, caresses, and indirect genital stimulations are categorized as sexual, but non-markers of first sex. Behaviours that do not involve genital contacts, such as strip-tease or massages, are categorized as non-sexual. Triangulation with qualitative findings from the same study shows high convergence between quantitative and qualitative data in that direct genital stimulations are markers of first sex for WSW. Together, these results highlight that direct anal stimulation and the use of sex toys would be considered markers of first sex when part of WSW's early sexual encounters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Working from a life course perspective, we examined how acquiescence (i.e., "lack of resistance") to an unwanted (i.e., "without experiencing a concomitant desire") first sexual experience was related to health and well-being in late life. Data were drawn from the second wave of the National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project (2010/11). The sample included 2558 older adults ages 62-99 (1182 men and 1376 women). Results from regression models suggested those respondents whose first sex was acquiesced reported higher levels of psychological distress and poorer physical health during late life than respondents whose first sex was wanted. Results from generalized structural equation modeling analysis further suggested that the association between acquiesced first sex and late-life health operated through adulthood socioeconomic status but not through marital relationships. We did not find gender differences in these processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research indicates that upwards to 30% of US urban Black male adolescents report first sex younger than age 13; however, there is limited literature on the sexual and reproductive health outcomes and contexts of these early first sex experiences. This exploratory study described sexual and reproductive health histories and explored personal, partner and parent contextual factors associated with first sex experiences occurring at 13 years or younger among a sample of US urban young men aged 15–24. Participants were assessed on their demographics and sexual health histories and a subset of young men were assessed on the contextual factors related to their first sex experience. Pearson chi-squared tests examined factors associated with early first sex and Fisher's exact tests examined associated contextual factors. First sex at 13 years or younger was reported by 29% of young men. A higher proportion of young men who had first sex at 13 or younger than those who had sex onset at 14 or older reported having got someone pregnant, having a "much older" first partner, and relationship satisfaction with their mother (16%) and father (12%). Study findings highlight the need to better understand urban young men's early first sex experiences, including the support needed to promote their healthy sexual development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sexting is the exchange of sexually suggestive contents via Internet, Smartphone, and Social Networking Websites. Recently, the research on sexting motivations increased in order to distinguish between experimental and aggravated sexting. This study investigated individual correlates of three sexting motivations: sexual purposes, instrumental/aggravated reasons, and body image reinforcement. The study involved 488 adolescents and young adults aged from 14 to 30 years. Sexual purposes and body image reinforcement were the most commonly reported motivations for sexting. Boys reported more instrumental/aggravated reasons, and sexual minorities reported more sexual purposes and body image reinforcement. Sexual purposes increased with age, while body image reinforcement showed a quadratic trend, increasing from adolescence to early young adulthood, and decreasing from early to late young adulthood. Finally, participants who have already had first sex reported more sexual purposes. Research, clinical and educational implications are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research has focused on adolescents' feelings about their first sexual experiences, but little research has examined this topic in sexual minority adolescents. In this study, we examined how experiencing emotional and physical satisfaction at first same-sex anal sex differed by age of first sex for young gay and bisexual men. We applied the time-varying effect model to data from an Internet survey of men who initiated first sex between ages 14–26 (n = 6401) to examine emotional and physical satisfaction at first same-sex anal sex across continuous age of onset and by partner factors. The majority of men reported satisfaction across all ages; however, satisfaction was generally less likely for men who had first anal sex with a non-relationship partner, an older partner, or a partner they had sex with only once and this was particularly true at earlier ages. Findings suggest that many young gay and bisexual men report satisfaction with their first anal sex and that relationship context can be important in predicting satisfaction, particularly at younger ages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

First sex is often defined by first penile-vaginal intercourse (PVI) among cisgender heterosexual individuals or first anal intercourse among cisgender men who have sex with men. The importance given to penetration as the marker of the transition to active partnered sexuality (TAPS) has contributed to the invisibility of women who have sex with women's (WSW) sexualities. Forty-three WSW aged 19–25 years (M = 22.90, SD = 2.17; 84% cisgender) completed a qualitative online survey wherein they described their TAPS. Directed content analysis led to the identification of (1) consensual behavioural markers and non-markers of TAPS and ambiguous behaviours; (2) contextual factors influencing WSW's understanding of TAPS; and (3) a typical course of TAPS among WSW from initiation to conclusion. Behavioural markers of TAPS include oral sex and manual-genital contact, while fondling, kissing and nudity around a partner constitute non-markers. Indirect genital contact and masturbation bear ambiguous meaning. No behavioural equivalent to PVI emerges. Contextual elements such as the role of partners or the importance given to novel sexual experiences are central to WSW's interpretations of first sex. The initiation of TAPS includes non-markers such as kissing and progresses to direct genital contact, though reciprocity or penetration are not required. Results show no consensus regarding its conclusion; TAPS is neither contingent on nor concluded by orgasm. Theoretical and clinical implications are discussed, along with recommendations for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A qualitative grounded theory approach was used to analyze 34 narratives from young men about their experience of retaining, losing, or giving away their virginity, where 7 said they were virgins, 26 said they were non-virgins, and one did not mention his virginity status. We found that virginity is a multidimensional concept, with two distinct dimensions: the experiential and the developmental. The experiential dimension refers to young men's perception and understanding of their virginity in four overlapping areas: physical, spiritual, relational, and emotional. The developmental dimension refers to young men's perception of their underlying sexual identity growth processes and the gendered and sexual double standards that influence this understanding. Clinical implications of this study are useful in education and counseling. They seek to empower young men with information relating to the multidimensional nature of virginity experience, and minimize the negative effects on romantic relationships, sexual adjustment, and self-identity development. The findings are helpful in designing interventions for young men and women who are at high risk for sexually transmitted infections and can help them negotiate mutually safe and pleasurable experiences regarding their virginity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bacterial vaginosis is a risk factor for sexually transmitted infections, including HIV. Adult African women have a high prevalence of bacterial vaginosis, but it is not known when first bacterial vaginosis occurs. This study aimed to describe bacterial vaginosis in younger African women, before and after first sex, and to determine the incidence of bacterial vaginosis and significant correlates of bacterial vaginosis incidence and recurrence. In a prospective observational cohort study enrolling adolescents with limited sexual experience, young women aged 16 to 21 years were recruited in Thika, Kenya. Eligible participants were HIV and herpes simplex virus 2 seronegative and reported 0 or 1 lifetime sexual partner. The Nugent score was determined at quarterly visits from vaginal Gram stains. The trends in bacterial vaginosis were described over time; hazard ratios were calculated using Cox regression, and relative risk of bacterial vaginosis was estimated using generalized estimating equations and Poisson regression. A total of 400 participants with a median age of 18.6 years (interquartile range, 16–21) were enrolled. Of note, 322 participants (80.5%) reported no history of sex, whereas 78 participants (19.5%) reported sex with 1 partner. At enrollment, bacterial vaginosis (Nugent score of ≥7) was uncommon (21/375 [5.6%]). Overall, 144 participants had bacterial vaginosis at least once, for an incidence rate of 16.5 cases per 100 person-years. Before first sex, bacterial vaginosis was present at 2.8% of visits, compared with 13.7% of visits after first sex. An adjusted model of bacterial vaginosis incidence observed that first sex was associated with more than a 2-fold increased bacterial vaginosis risk (adjusted hazard ratio, 2.44; 95% confidence interval, 1.25–4.76; P =.009). Chlamydia diagnosis (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.73; 95% confidence interval, 1.1–2.8; P =.02), and herpes simplex virus 2 seropositivity (adjusted hazard ratio, 2.88; 95% confidence interval, 1.17–7.09; P =.021) were both associated with incident bacterial vaginosis. A multivariate generalized estimating equation model, including all episodes of bacterial vaginosis, demonstrated risk factors, including first sex, sexually transmitted infections, urban residence, recent sex, and no income; the most important risk factor was first sex (adjusted relative risk, 1.92; 95% confidence interval, 1.12–3.31; P =.018). The probability of bacterial vaginosis increased with each subsequent episode; mean Nugent scores increased after each bacterial vaginosis episode. Using detailed longitudinal observation, this study found that Kenyan adolescents have almost no bacterial vaginosis before first sex and that initiation of sexual activity was the strongest risk factor for both prevalent bacterial vaginosis and incident bacterial vaginosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Girls’ school participation has expanded considerably in the developing world over the last few decades, a phenomenon expected to have substantial consequences for reproductive behaviour. Using Demographic and Health Survey data from 43 countries, this paper examines trends and differentials in the mean ages at three critical life-cycle events for young women: first sexual intercourse, first marriage, and first birth. We measure the extent to which trends in the timing of these events are driven either by the changing educational composition of populations or by changes in behaviour within education groups. Mean ages have risen over time in all regions for all three events, except age at first sex in Latin America and the Caribbean. Results from a decomposition exercise indicate that increases in educational attainment, rather than trends within education groups, are primarily responsible for the overall trends. Possible explanations for these findings are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Previous studies have shown that female infidelity, attachment insecurity, and male sexual coercion in intimate relationships are empirically related to each other. However, the mechanisms that are involved remain poorly understood. The study aimed to examine two mediating models of male sexual coercion concerning first sex in Chinese college students' dating relationships (perceived female infidelity or attachment insecurity as the mediator), with both male and female participants (not using dyadic data). A total of 927 validly completed questionnaires provided the data; the respondents were recruited by purposive snowball sampling of students attending colleges in five of China's largest cities who were currently in a romantic relationship. First, with both the male and female samples, perceived female infidelity was positively correlated with violence threat coercive tactics; and, with the male sample only, it was positively correlated with emotional manipulation coercive tactics. Second, with the male sample only, male partners' attachment insecurity (anxiety and avoidance) were positively correlated with perceived female infidelity. Third, male partners' attachment anxiety fully mediated the relationship between perceived female infidelity and emotional manipulation coercive tactics. These findings suggest how the proximate and ultimate causes of sexual coercion in intimate relationships interact. Implications for clinical practice are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Understanding the timing of sexual debut is critical for informing sexual and reproductive health interventions. We investigated sexual behavior and early sexual debut among Rwandan youth., Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of data from a cluster-randomized trial with 6079 students ages 12-19 years in Rwanda. We examined predictors of early sexual debut (<15 years) using logistic regression to estimate odds ratios and factors associated with the timing of first sex using Cox models to estimate hazard ratios. Interpretations of sex were also explored., Results: Participants were 15 years and 51.5% female on average; 1723 (28.3%) reported sexual activity. Among the 1320 participants who provided an age of sexual debut, 51.4% reported sex at ≤12 years and 75.7% at<15 years. Males had a higher odds of early sexual debut (adjusted odds ratio: 2.40; 95% CI: 1.99, 2.90) and a higher hazard of sex occuring at an earlier age than females (adjusted hazard ratio: 1.91; 95% CI: 1.67, 2.20). One-third of participants considered "sexual intercourse" to include kissing, touching, or masturbation., Conclusions: Sex at ≤12 years was frequently reported, indicating that interventions facilitating access to youth-friendly sexual and reproductive health services are necessary before age 12. Validation studies are needed to evaluate how interpretations of sexual intercourse influence the assessment of sexual activity., Clinical Trial: NCT04198272., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: Rebecca Hope reports financial support was provided by David and Lucile Packard Foundation. Rebecca Hope reports financial support was provided by USAID., (Copyright © 2023 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The hypothesis that father absence during childhood, as well as other forms of childhood psychosocial stress, might influence the timing of sexual maturity and adult reproductive behaviors has been the focus of considerable research. However, the majority of studies that have examined this prediction have used samples of women of European descent living in industrialized, low-fertility nations. This paper tests the father-absence hypothesis using the Cape Area Panel Study (CAPS), which samples young adults in Cape Town, South Africa. The sample contains multiple racial groups (blacks, coloureds [mixed race], and whites) and includes both males and females. Dependent variables include age at menarche, age at first sexual intercourse, and age at first pregnancy. Childhood stress is measured by father absence by age six (either never lived with father or lived with father some but not all years) and an index of childhood exposure to violence (measuring threatened or actual verbal or physical abuse). The hypothesis received no support for effect on age at menarche but was supported for age at first sex and first pregnancy. The model showed stronger support for coloureds and whites than blacks and had no predictive power at all for black males. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most examinations of sexual behavior ignore social context. Using panel data from the National Longitudinal Study of Freshmen, a panel study of 3924 students at 28 selective colleges and universities, I examine how institutional and peer-group characteristics influence the incidence of sexual intercourse among students during their freshman year. Students who enter college as virgins are more likely to have sexual intercourse on campuses where women comprise a higher proportion of the campus population and on campuses that are more academically rigorous. Students who had sex prior to college are less likely to have sex in college when campuses are more residential. Moreover, having friends who value religion and partying affects the likelihood that a student will have sex irrespective of their prior virginity status. These findings highlight the importance of social context for sexual behavior among college students and in the general population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sexual compliance involves willing consent to unwanted sex. The current study examined experiences and correlates of compliant sex with casual partners. Guided by sexual script theory, feelings about first partnered sex and sexual self-perceptions were identified as possible correlates of compliance. Potential moderating effects of gender also were explored. Sexually active heterosexual undergraduates ( N = 258) in the northeastern U.S. responded to self-report measures of desire, pleasure, and emotional discomfort associated with first partnered sex, sexual self-awareness, sexual refusal efficacy, and compliance with vaginal and oral sex. About a third of the sample reported complying with casual sex at least once. Overall, very few participants who complied with a casual partner also complied with a committed partner. More women than men complied with giving oral sex to a casual partner; there were no gender differences in compliance with either vaginal sex or receiving oral sex. Emotional discomfort with first partnered sex was positively associated with compliant casual sex only among women. Although women reported less desire and pleasure associated with first partnered sex than men, neither desire nor pleasure from first sex were associated with casual compliance for either gender. Refusal efficacy was negatively associated with compliant casual sex for both women and men. The implications of these findings for future research and educating college students about compliance and its correlates are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

How young women negotiate sexual agency in first sex is contingent upon the specific social construction of female and male sexuality and the sexual double standards in a particular local context. Within Philippine Roman Catholicism, a strong religious moral discourse equates virginity with a woman’s honor, making first sex or virginity loss a source of shame. This has implications for women’s experiences of sexual agency. We report on research in which a group of eight young Filipina women wrote their memories of first sex and collectively analyzed these memories. Using thematic analysis, we derived five themes about why they engaged in first sex: (1) “giving in,” (2) “nadala” or “carried away,” (3) love, (4) self-expression, and (5) coercion. Avoiding sexual agency in giving in and nadala is linked to the experience of pain, loss, and shame. Recognizing sexual agency by articulating first sex as a need for sexual self-expression is tied to the experience of pleasure. The absence of sexual agency is seen in the experience of coercion and subsequent trauma. Despite variations in these women’s constructions of first sex, each can be seen as ways of preserving a woman’s social status and maintaining a “good girl” position. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This study investigated the relationship between school sex education and sexual health behaviours at first sex and later in adulthood, using nationally representative data. Respondents were adults from the 2010 Irish Contraception and Crisis Pregnancy Survey, a cross-sectional survey designed to assess knowledge, attitudes and behaviours relating to sex, contraception and pregnancy in Ireland. Results indicate that respondents who received sex education were more likely to have first sex at an older age and use contraception on this occasion. Sex education also significantly increased the likelihood of using contraception at first sex, when first sex occurred before 17 years of age. The effect of sex education and sexual health behaviours into adulthood was also investigated. Sex education increased the likelihood of having a history of sexually transmitted infection testing and decreased the likelihood of having experienced a crisis pregnancy. No association was found between sex education and contraception use over the past year. Findings suggest that sex education is an important factor in the context of first sex and later sexual health, and programmes should continue to equip young people as they make immediate sexual behaviour decisions and further sexual health-related decisions throughout their lifespan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of AIDS & Behavior is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of AIDS & Behavior is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of African Journal of Reproductive Health is the property of Women's Health & Action Research Centre and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The future of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the Democratic Republic of Congo will depend on the behavior that teenagers and young adults are likely to adopt. Documenting teenagers and young adults behavior can help design effective interventions. The premarital sexual activity of 13,091 teenagers and young adults aged 15–24 years was examined. Logistic regression models were used to identify the correlates of ever had sex and recent sex. Ever had sex and recent sex were associated with older individuals, males, school dropouts, those addicted to alcohol and drug use, those living alone or with friends, those involved in an income generating activity, those with low capacity to resist sex, those with low socio-economic status and those living in permissive milieu. Controlling access to alcohol and drugs, teaching teenagers skills to resist sex, getting schools involved in teaching values of abstinence and delayed sex, could impact the age at first sex and trigger the adoption of lower risk behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relation between timing of first sex and later delinquency was examined using a genetically informed sample of 534 same-sex twin pairs from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, who were assessed at three time points over a 7-year interval. Genetic and environmental differences between families were found to account for the association between earlier age at first sex and increases in delinquency. After controlling for these genetic and environmental confounds using a quasi-experimental design, earlier age at first sex predicted lower levels of delinquency in early adulthood. The current study is contrasted with previous research with non-genetically informative samples, including Armour and Haynie (, Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 36, 141–152). Results suggest a more nuanced perspective on the meaning and consequences of adolescent sexuality than is commonly put forth in the literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Researchers have established that individual religiosity influences sexual behavior and that religious support can increase consistency between personal religiosity and behavior. Researchers are less certain, however, of the effect that religious friendship networks have on sexual behavior. In addition, the effects of network characteristics such as density and one’s position in a social network have not been established. This paper uses a network subsample of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health) to examine the effect of friends’ religiosity on the probability of first sex. We find that friends’ religiosity has an independent influence on adolescent sexual behavior that is similar in magnitude to personal religiosity. We also find evidence that friends’ religiosity has the strongest influence on the sexual behavior of adolescents who are embedded in dense social networks, in which teens’ friends are also friends with one another. These results support the hypothesis that group influences depend on the degree of embeddedness within the network and highlight the importance of studying religion as a property of groups as well as individuals. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

There is concern that orphans may be at particular risk of HIV infection due to earlier age of sexual onset and higher likelihood of sexual exploitation or abuse; however, there is limited empirical evidence examining this phenomenon. Utilizing data from 1694 Black South African youth aged 14–18, of whom 31% are classified as orphaned, this analysis explores the relationship between orphan status and sexual risk. The analysis found both male and female orphans significantly more likely to have engaged in sex as compared to non-orphans (49% vs. 39%). After adjusting for socio-demographic variables, orphans were nearly one and half times more likely than non-orphans to have had sex. Among sexually active youth, orphans reported younger age of sexual intercourse with 23% of orphans having had sex by age 13 or younger compared to 15% of non-orphans. Programmatic implications of these findings for the care and protection of orphans are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To examine reasons for contraceptive nonuse at first sex and subsequent unintended pregnancy among women attending family planning and prenatal clinics. Methods: Data come from the Determinants of Unintended Pregnancy Risk in New Orleans study. Reasons for nonuse by age, partner's age, and pregnancy status are compared. Results: Concern about parents' finding out about sexual activity was a common reason for nonuse at first sex and first unintended pregnancy. Problems accessing and discontinuation of contraception were reasons given at second or higher- order unintended pregnancy. Conclusions: Reasons for nonuse vary by event and age at event. Providers should consider various reasons when counseling patients on contraceptive options. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: There are limited data on the patterns of early sexual behaviours among Australian teenage heterosexual boys. This study describes the nature and onset of early sexual experiences in this population through a cross-sectional survey., Design: A cross-sectional survey between 2014 and 2015 SETTING: Major sexual health clinics and community sources across Australia PARTICIPANTS: Heterosexual men aged 17-19 years RESULTS: There were 191 men in the study with a median age of 19.1 years. Median age at first oral sex was 16.4 years (IQR: 15.5-17.7) and 16.9 years (IQR: 16.0-18.0) for first vaginal sex. Most men had engaged in oral sex (89.5%) and vaginal sex (91.6%) in the previous 12 months with 32.6% reporting condom use at last vaginal sex. Of the total lifetime female partners for vaginal sex reported by men as a group (n=1187): 54.3% (n=645) were the same age as the man, 28.3% (n=336) were a year or more younger and 17.4% (n=206) were a year or more older. Prior anal sex with females was reported by 22% with 47% reporting condom use at last anal sex. Median age at first anal sex was 18.2 years (IQR: 17.3-18.8). Anal sex with a female was associated with having five or more lifetime female sexual partners for oral and vaginal sex., Conclusions: These data provide insights into the trajectory of sexual behaviours experienced by teenage heterosexual boys following sexual debut, findings which can inform programme promoting sexual health among teenage boys., Competing Interests: Competing interests: EPFC has received educational grants from Seqirus and bioCSL to assist with education, training and academic purposes in the area of HPV. CKF has received honoraria from CSL Biotherapies and Merck, and research funding from CSL Biotherapies. CKF owns shares in CSL Biotherapies, which is the manufacturer of Gardasil. MYC has been the principal investigator on Merck Investigator Initiated Studies and received funding to conduct HPV studies under these programmes. CKF, CSB, DGR, JB, AM, DR, LM and LO are co-investigators on Merck Investigator Initiated Studies. All other authors have no conflicts of interest to declare., (© Article author(s) (or their employer(s) unless otherwise stated in the text of the article) 2017. All rights reserved. No commercial use is permitted unless otherwise expressly granted.)