Determinants of the age at sexual debut among adolescents in secondary schools in Obio/Akpor local government area of Rivers State, Nigeria
Main Article Content
Abstract
Background: The age at sexual debut is an important public health issue as it determines the onset of exposure to sexual and reproductive health diseases. Early sexual debut increases the risk of sexually transmitted infections, HIV/AIDS, teenage pregnancy and all the associated sequelae. This study determined the age at sexual debut and associated factors among adolescents in secondary schools in Obio/Akpor local government area (LGA) of Rivers State, Nigeria.
Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional school-based study was carried out among eight secondary schools in Obio/Akpor LGA of Rivers State between May and July 2017. Using the multistaged sampling method, 426 students aged 10–19 years were recruited. A semi-structured pretested self-administered questionnaire was used. SPSS version 20 was used for analysis. Comparison of means was done using the Student’s t-test, while the test for association between subgroups was carried out using the Chi-square test and logistic
regression analysis was done to describe the sociodemographic characteristics of respondents and to identify independently associated factors.
Results: Of the 426 students studied, 223 (52.3%) of them were males and 203 (47.7%) were females, giving a male-to-female ratio of 1:1. The mean age of respondents was 13.8 ± 1.7 years. The prevalence of sexual intercourse was 8.0%, with a mean age at sexual debut of 13.0 ± 2.3 years. The factors identified to influence the age at sexual debut include alcohol use (odds ratio [OR]: 13.088, confidence interval [CI]: 6.038–28.374, P = 0.000), not living with both parents (OR: 7.008, CI: 3.289–15.164, P = 0.000), peer pressure (² = 17.007, P ≤ 0.001) and sexual abuse (² = 7.472, P = 0.006).
Conclusion: The prevalence of sexual intercourse is 8.0% among adolescents in Obio/Akpor LGA. Early sexual debut exists with no gender difference on the timing of sexual debut. Peer pressure, sexual abuse, alcohol use and absence of both parents in a child’s life are risk factors to early sexual debut. An early and comprehensive sex education is necessary to protect children from initiating sexual intercourse early in life.
Downloads
Article Details
The journal grants the right to make small numbers of printed copies for their personal non-commercial use under Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 Unported License.
References
1. World Health Organization. Defining Sexual Health. Available from: http://www.who.int/reproductivehealth/publications/sexual./defining_sexual_health.pd. [Last retrieved on 2017 Mar 18].
2. WHO. Adolescents and Youths. Geneva, Switzerland: World Health Organization, 2012; 3‑27.
3. Kuzman M, Simetin IP, Franelić IP. Early sexual intercourse and risk factors in Croatian adolescents. Coll Antropol 2007;31 Suppl 2:121‑30.
4. Mmbaga EJ, Leonard F, Leyna GH. Incidence and predictors of Adolescent’s early sexual debut after three decades of HIV interventions in Tanzania: A time to debut analysis. PLoS One 2012;7:e41700.
5. Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey 2003 – The DHS Program. Retrieved from: https://www.dhsprogram.com/pubs/pdf/FR148/FR148.pd. [Last accessed on 2017 May 29].
6. UNAIDS. Prevention Gap Report. Available from: http://www.unaids.org/sites/default/files/media_asset/2016‑prevention‑gap‑report_en.pdf. [Last accessed on 2017 Jun 17].
7. Nnebue CC, Chimah UC, Duru CB, Ilika AL, Lawoyin TO. Determinants of age at sexual initiation among Nigerian adolescents: A study of secondary schools students in a military barracks in Nigeria. Am J Med Sci Med 2016;4:1‑7.
8. Naca Annual Report. Report of Achievements for the Year; 2016. Available from: https://www.naca.gov.ng/naca‑annual‑report‑2016/. [Last
retrieved on 2017 Jul 18].
9. Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey 2013. Abuja, Nigeria, and Rockville, Maryland, USA: NPC and ICF International, 2013. Available
from: https://www.dhsprogram.com/pubs/pdf/SR213/SR213.pdf. [Last retrieved on 2017 Jul 18].
10. Federal Ministry of Health. National HIV & AIDS and Reproductive Health Survey, (NARHS Plus). Abuja, Nigeria: Federal Ministry of Health, 2012. Available from: http://www.naca.gov.ng/wordpress/wp‑content/uploads/2016/11/NARHS‑Plus‑2012‑Final‑18112013.pdf. [Last retrieved on 2017 Jun 13].
11. Envuladu EA, Agbo HA, Ohize VA, Zoakah AI. Social factors associated with teenage sexual behavior: A risk factor for STI/HIV among female adolescents in a rural community in Plateau State, Nigeria. J Med Res 2013;2:117‑22.
12. Slap GB, Lot L, Huang B, Daniyam CA, Zink TM, Succop PA, et al. Sexual behaviour of adolescents in Nigeria: Cross sectional survey of
secondary school students. BMJ 2003;326:15.
13. Cochran WG. Sampling Technique. 2nded. New York, USA: Wiley and Sons Inc., 1963.
14. Aomreore AA, Alikor EA. Prevalence of major HIV‑ risk related behaviour among SSS3 students in Port Harcourt Metropolis, Nigeria. Afr J Health Sci 2008;15:42‑9.
15. Alex‑Hart B, Okagua J, Opara PI. Sexual behaviours of secondary school students in Port Harcourt. Br J Med Med Res 2015;6:325‑34.
16. Ndebele M. Risky Sexual Behaviour among South African Adolescent Learners: Possible Interventions? Available from: http://www.Education.gpg.gov.za/Documents/Risky Sexual Behaviour.pdf. [Last accessed on 2017 Jun 16].
17. SalakoAA, Iyaniwura CA, Jeminusi OA, Sofowora R. Sexual behaviour, contraception and fertility among in‑school adolescents in Ikenne local
government, South‑Western Nigeria. Niger J Clin Pract 2006;9:26‑36.
18. Ndebele M. Risky Sexual Behaviour Among South African Adolescent Learners: Possible Interventions? Available from: http://www.
Education.gpg.gov.za/Documents/Risky Sexual Behaviour.pdf. [Last accessed on 2017 Jun 20].
19. Seth OR. Peer Effects in Sexual Initiation: Separating Social Norms and Partner Supply Publicly Accessible Penn Dissertations. Available
from: http://www.repository.upenn.edu/edissertations/118. [Last accessed on 2017 Jun 21].
20. Borges AL. Peer social pressure on the sexual debut of adolescents. Rev Esc Enferm USP 2007;41:782‑6.
21. Ajuwon AJ, Olaleye A, Faromoju B, Ladipo O. Sexual behavior and experience of sexual coercion among secondary school students in three states in North Eastern Nigeria. BMC Public Health 2006;6:310.
22. World Health Organization. Rape and Sexual Violence. Available from: http://www.apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/10665/77434/1/WHO_RHR_12.37_eng.pdf. [Last retrieved on 2017 Jun 19].
23. StueveA, O’Donnell LN. Early alcohol initiation and subsequent sexual and alcohol risk behaviors among urban youths. Am J Public Health
2005;95:887‑93.
24. Devine D, Long P, Forehand R. A prospective study of adolescent sexual activity: description, correlates, and predictors. Adv Behav Res Ther 1993;15:185‑209.
25. Odimegwu CO, Solanke LB, Adedokun A. Parental characteristics and adolescent sexual behaviour in Bida local government area of Niger
state, Nigeria. Afr J Reprod Health 2002;6:95‑106.