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Measuring sexual behavior among in-school youth in Rwanda: a cross-sectional analysis of self-reported timing of first sex and correlates of early sexual debut.
- Source :
-
Annals of epidemiology [Ann Epidemiol] 2023 Jul; Vol. 83, pp. 35-39.e1. Date of Electronic Publication: 2023 Apr 14. - Publication Year :
- 2023
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Abstract
- 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.<br />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.<br />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.<br />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.<br />Clinical Trial: NCT04198272.<br />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.<br /> (Copyright © 2023 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1873-2585
- Volume :
- 83
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Annals of epidemiology
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 37060934
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annepidem.2023.04.005