Exploring Sexual Behaviour and Associated Factors among Adolescents in Saudi Arabia: A Call to End Ignorance

Ali Saad R Alsubaie

doi:10.2991/jegh.k.181210.001

Abstract

Little is known about sexual behaviour, attitudes, and associated factors among adolescents in Saudi Arabia. A cross-sectional study using a multistage sampling technique was conducted among 453 male adolescents selected from high schools in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. About 54.1% of the adolescents practiced masturbation daily and 38% had experienced sexual contact, while 67% had friends who had experienced sexual contact. The majority of adolescents (72.2%) believed men engage in sexual experience before marriage, and only 11.5% discussed sexual health issues with their parents. Most adolescents believed in the effectiveness of sex education (92.3%) and the need for school-based sex education (85.6%). The logistic regression analyses showed adolescent sexual activity was independently associated with age [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 1.5, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.3–1.8, p < 0.001), daily masturbation (AOR = 2.1, 95% CI: 1.3–3.2, p < 0.004), friends who engaged in sexual activity (AOR = 2.8, 95% CI: 1.4–4.6, p < 0.001), and belief that men experience sexual contact before marriage (AOR = 5.1, 95% CI: 2.8–9.3, p < 0.001). The findings indicated that male adolescents had negative attitudes toward sexual activity and were involved in risky sexual behaviour. To mitigate these issues, schools and community networks should be involved in the delivery of a culturally sensitive sexual health-promoting programme.

Highlights

Adolescence refers to the stage of transition from childhood to adulthood in which many physiological and psychological changes are experienced, including puberty, which greatly influence adolescents’ choices, decisions, and health
A total of 477 students from four all-male high schools in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia were invited to participate in the study
These findings indicated that adolescents in Saudi Arabia engaged in risky sexual behaviour and had negative attitudes, premarital sexual contact is totally forbidden and unacceptable in Saudi Arabia

Summary

Introduction

Adolescence refers to the stage of transition from childhood to adulthood in which many physiological and psychological changes are experienced, including puberty, which greatly influence adolescents’ choices, decisions, and health. Adolescents habitually engage in behaviour that puts their current and future health at risk, including unsafe sexual activities. Almost all adolescents are at risk for contracting sexually transmitted infections (STIs), such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, and are more prone to spreading them due to the lack of accurate health information, engagement in risky behaviour, regional and national conflicts, and the lack of adequate reproductive health services [1]. Over 40% of new infections worldwide occur in young people aged 15–25 years [2]. An estimated 5000 young people are infected with HIV worldwide, which results in nearly 2 million new infections per year [3]. The reported number of HIV infections within Saudi Arabia has increased over the last few years [4], indicating that conservative communities are not immune to STIs [5]; STI data in Islamic states, where nonmarital sexual activities are forbidden for religious reasons, are notably limited [6]

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Conclusion