Abstract
BackgroundIn recent years, more adolescents are engaging in premarital sex in China. However, only a limited number of studies have explored out-of-school youth's sexual attitudes and behaviors, critical for prevention intervention development.MethodsUsing data from the baseline survey of a comprehensive sex education program that was conducted in a suburb of Shanghai in 2000–2002, this study describes sexual attitudes, patterns of communication on sexual matters, and premarital sexual behavior among 1,304 out-of-school youth. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was conducted to examine the factors associated with youth's premarital sexual intercourse.ResultsThe majority (60%) of out-of-school youth held favorable attitudes towards premarital sex. Males were more likely to have favorable attitudes compared with females. Male youth generally did not communicate with either parent about sex, while one-third of female youth talked to their mothers about sexual matters. Both males and females chose their friends as the person with whom they were most likely to talk about sexual matters. About 18% of the youth reported having engaged in sexual intercourse. One-fifth of sexually active youth had always used a contraceptive method, and one-quarter had been pregnant (or had impregnated a partner). There were no gender differences in rate of premarital sex or frequency of contraceptive use. Multivariate analysis revealed that age, education, family structure, parent's discipline, attitudes towards premarital sex, pattern of communication and dating were significantly associated with youth premarital sex.ConclusionA substantial proportion of out-of-school youth engage in risky sexual behaviors. Prevention programs that empower communication and sexual negotiation skills, and promote condom use should be implemented for this vulnerable group.
Highlights
IntroductionMore adolescents are engaging in premarital sex in China. only a limited number of studies have explored out-of-school youth's sexual attitudes and behaviors, critical for prevention intervention development
In recent years, more adolescents are engaging in premarital sex in China
Higher proportions of female compared to male youth reported that their parents imposed strict disciplinary control on them (38.7% vs. 33.1%, P < 0.05) and that they were dating someone at the time of the survey (36% vs. 29.3%, P < 0.05)
Summary
More adolescents are engaging in premarital sex in China. only a limited number of studies have explored out-of-school youth's sexual attitudes and behaviors, critical for prevention intervention development. Attitudes towards sex have been changing rapidly, and premarital sex has been accepted by many young people [1,2]. The prevalence of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) has increased dramatically during this period [3], and heterosexual transmission is rapidly becoming the primary route of HIV transmission in China. Transmitted HIV infection in China increased from 5.5% in 1997 to 19.8% in 2003 [4]. It is estimated that half of the new HIV infections in China in 2005 occurred through unprotected sex [5]. The United Nations estimated that about half of new HIV infections worldwide occur among young people ages 15– 24 [5]. In China, more than 60% of all HIV infections are among people aged 15–29 years [6]. Effective HIV prevention among youth, is critical to containment of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, and understanding the sexual attitudes and behavior of youth is important to designing prevention interventions
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