Analysis of Coital and Non-Coital Sexual Behavior in Adolescents: Spain, 2016

Abstract

The adolescent population is considered a group that is at risk for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) or HIV. The objective of this study was to analyze the characteristics of the sexual behavior (both coital and non-coital) of Spanish adolescents and the differences on the basis of gender. It was a representative sample of 2703 Spanish adolescents of between 14 and 20 years old. In total, 49.9% of participants were males (M = 15.95; SD = 1.30) and 51.1% females (M = 15.83; SD = 1.28). The results show that 27% of adolescents maintain penetrative sexual relations, 45.7% engage in non-penetrative sex, and 27.3% have never had sexual experience. On the basis of gender, males initiate non-penetrative sexual behavior, vaginal sex, and anal sex earlier than females, have a greater number of non-penetrative sexual encounters under the influence of alcohol and have a greater number of anal and vaginal sex partners. Females, on the other hand, tend to have partners who are older than them. No gender differences were found in the case of condom use in the first and last sexual contact with anal and vaginal penetration, or in the consistent use of condoms in anal and vaginal sexual encounters, of which it is particularly worth noting that 47.2% of adolescents use condoms inconsistently in vaginal sexual relations, and 81.9% in anal relations. It can be concluded that it is necessary to intervene and educate adolescents on the prevention of STIs/HIV at an early age, taking into account a gender perspective.