Sexual behaviour and early coitarche in a national sample of 17‐year‐old Swedish boys

Abstract

Aim: To describe sexual behaviour as reported by 17‐year‐old boys in Sweden. Methods: The national cross‐sectional SAM 73–90 questionnaire survey was performed in 1990, and comprised 2% of students and school non‐attenders born in 1973. The respondents included 814 students and 92 non‐students, response rates 90.6% and 40.2%, respectively. Data from the two groups are treated separately. Results: In the student group, 54.2% of boys had experienced vaginal intercourse and 16.7% were “early starters” with coitarche before 15 y of age. Independent predictors for coital experience were the vocational study programme OR (odds ratio) 1.91 (95% CI 1.31–2.78), early puberty OR 1.69 (95% CI 1.11–2.57), use of tobacco OR 5.32 (95% CI 2.43–11.7) and alcohol OR 4.09 (2.79–5.98). Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) were reported by 4.1% of coitally active student boys, and impregnating a girlfriend by 4.3%. Of the early starters, 14.6% reported having more than 10 sex partners as compared with 2.5% of the later starters (p > 0.0001) and this was predictive of STI, OR 5.4 (95% CI 1.5–19.7). First‐date intercourse more than twice was predictive of pregnancy, OR 14.4 (95% CI 3.8–54.5). Among school non‐attenders, 74.2% reported coital experience, 33.7% were early starters, and 12.5% had impregnated a girl. Conclusion: Boys' early sexual experience was related to early puberty, and to general adolescent risk‐taking behaviour. Early coitarche per se was not predictive of STI or pregnancy, but the associated high number of “lifetime” sexual partners and first‐date intercourse were predictive factors. School non‐attenders constituted a group at risk.