Early Sexual Initiation Research Articles

Evaluation of the Use of Methylation as a New Tool for the Diagnostics and Progression of Squamous Intraepithelial Lesions

Vaccination against human papillomavirus (HPV) significantly reduces the incidence of HPV-related lesions worldwide. Considering the increasingly young age of patients in gynecological offices and earlier sexual initiation and potential contact with the HPV virus, doctors need the tools to verify diagnoses. Currently, women plan to pursue motherhood later, so it is necessary to consider whether sexual treatment in the form of, among others, loop electrosurgical excision procedures (LEEPs) may increase the risk of premature birth or difficulty dilating the cervix during labour. For this reason, to avoid the overtreatment of low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (LSILs), methylation testing may be considered. In patients with histopathologically confirmed high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSILs) during biopsy and, ultimately, a lower diagnosis, i.e., LSIL or no signs of atypia, methylation was found to be a useful tool. We performed a Pap smear, HPV genotyping, a punch biopsy, LEEP-conization (if needed), and methylation tests on 108 women admitted to the District Public Hospital in Poland. Women with a negative methylation test result were significantly more likely to be ultimately diagnosed with LSIL (p = 0.013). This means that in 85.7% of the patients with HSIL, major cervical surgery could be avoided if the methylation test was negative. Methylation testing, as well as dual-staining and diagnostics detecting the mRNA transcripts of highly oncogenic types of HPV, might be used in the future in the diagnosis of pre-cancerous conditions, mainly of the cervix, and in HPV-dependent cervical cancer screening. The methylation test may also be used in the diagnosis and identification of lesions within the cervical canal, including those located deep within the frontal crypts, not visible even during a professional colposcopic evaluation of the cervix.

HPV Vaccines

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a double-stranded DNA virus and a source of infection that primarily affects the skin and mucous membranes. It can be transmitted through sexual contact and contaminated surfaces. There are over 200 genotypes of HPV, approximately 40 of which infect the anogenital region. High-risk HPV types, such as HPV-16 and HPV-18, can lead to the development of various cancers, particularly cervical cancer. Factors that increase the risk of transmission include having multiple sexual partners, early initiation of sexual activity, and having an uncircumcised male partner. Low socioeconomic status, poor nutrition, immunosuppression, and co-infections with HIV, genital herpes, or chlamydia can result in persistent and severe HPV infection. Three types of vaccines have been developed against HPV: bivalent, quadrivalent, and nonavalent vaccines. The bivalent vaccine provides protection against HPV-16 and HPV-18; the quadrivalent vaccine is effective against HPV-16, HPV-18, as well as HPV-6 and HPV-11. The nonavalent vaccine offers the broadest protection, covering nine different types of HPV. All vaccines are approved for males and females aged 9 and older. Vaccination before the onset of sexual activity significantly increases protection against cervical cancer.

Affective-Sexual Behaviors in Youth: Analysis of a Public Health Survey in the School Setting.

Adolescence is a critical period for the development of affectivity and sexuality. Adolescents begin to explore their sexual identities, form intimate relationships, and learn to manage their emotions in new and complex contexts. This study aims to analyze the prevalence of habits and behaviors related to the affective-sexual health of adolescents in the fourth year of ESO, identifying risk factors, comparing their behaviors and risks, monitoring these behaviors, analyzing their pornography consumption, and evaluating the use of the internet as a source of sexual information. Descriptive cross-sectional study using questionnaires. Participants are fourth-year ESO students from a school in the Baix Llobregat province (Catalonia), aged between 14 and 18 years. Descriptive and bivariate statistical analyses are conducted using the chi-square test and p-value calculations with the R Project software. Frequency and percentage analyses are also used to describe the health behaviors of the participants. The study reveals that girls have better knowledge of the contraceptive pill and male condom than boys. Sexual initiation and condom use management vary between the genders, with girls being more capable of persuading their partners to use them. Pornography consumption also shows significant differences in terms of the age of initiation and frequency between boys and girls. This study on adolescent affectivity and sexuality reveals knowledge about contraceptives, early sexual initiation, and high pornography consumption, highlighting the need for early and diverse affective-sexual education, youth empowerment, and media misinformation management to promote safer and healthier behaviors within municipal public health.

Condom non-use among adolescents: Prevalence and associated factors among school-going adolescents from 58 countries

ObjectivesStudies in several resource-limited settings have investigated the prevalence and potential factors associated with condom non-use among adolescents, showing inconsistent and varied findings, owing to methodological inconsistencies. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the prevalence and associated factors of condom non-use among a global sample of adolescents and their differences based on sex and region. MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional study using the 2009–2018 Global School-based Health Survey data from 58 countries which included 183,100 adolescents aged 12–15 years. Random-effects meta-analysis was used to estimate the overall and regional pooled prevalence of condom non-use. Multilevel mixed-effect logistic regressions were used to investigate the correlates of condom non-use. ResultsOverall, 26.2% of the total sample reported being sexually active and of these, 27.6% did not use condoms during last intercourse, with boys reporting higher than girls (27.9% vs. 25.6%). The prevalence of condom non-use was the highest in the African region (29.2%) and the lowest in the South-East Asia region (21.1%). There were variations in prevalence across countries, regions, and sex. Female gender, older age, loneliness, suicidal ideation, being bullied, parental support and supervision, truancy, smoking, illicit drug use, early sexual initiation, and having multiple sex partners were associated with condom non-use. There was evidence of heterogeneity of correlates across regions and sex. ConclusionsIn this analysis, we found variations in the prevalence and associated factors of condom non-use among adolescents by sex and region. These findings can shape effective sexual health initiatives and improve resource distribution across regions.

Risky sexual behaviors and associated factors among adolescent in Gedeo Zone, South Ethiopia: a community based cross-sectional study

Adolescents represent 16% of the global population and they are identified as a critical demographic group for promoting sexual health. Adolescents are susceptible to engaging in risky sexual behaviors (RSB) such as early sexual initiation, having multiple sexual partners, substance use during sexual encounters and practicing unsafe sex. Adolescents represent 16% of the global population and they are identified as a critical demographic group for promoting sexual health. Adolescents are susceptible to engaging in risky sexual behaviors (RSB) such as early sexual initiation, having multiple sexual partners, substance use during sexual encounters and practicing unsafe sex. To assess risky Sexual behaviors and associated factors among adolescent in Gedeo Zone, Southern Ethiopia: A community based cross-sectional study. A community based cross-sectional study was conducted in Gedeo Zone among adolescents. A total of 2780 (99.3%) adolescents were participated in the study and gave the response rate of 99.3%. A pre-tested structured questionnaire was used to gather the data and analyzed by using SPSS version 23. During analysis initially bivariable logistic regression model was used then, those variables with a level of significant at a P-value ≤ 0.25 were considered as candidate for multivariable logistic regression model. A level of significant at a P-value ≤ 0.05 was considered as statistically significant in this study. Out of 428 sexually active adolescent 334 (78%) exposed to risky sexual practice. More than half 54.3% of adolescent was protestant in religion followed by Orthodox 34.2% and Muslim 11.5%. In terms of ethnicity, Gedeo 67.4% was the dominant ethnic group in the study area. Mean age at sexual initiation was 15 ± 1.8.Residence AOR 1.14 (1.36–5.25), Sex AOR 2.77 (1.31–5.86), Age AOR 2.01 (1.41–6.39), School attending AOR 1.93 (1.27–5.75), Watching Pornographies AOR 2.51 (1.36–4.62) and Parental monitoring AOR 2.10 (1.07–4.10) were independent predictor of risky sexual practice in this study. The prevalence of risky sexual behavior was found to be alarming among adolescents aged 14–19 years, mostly rural and female adolescents and those adolescent start sexual practice earlier exposed to risky sexual practice than their counter parts. Sexual urge, watching pornography and not attending school were the major factor for risky sexual behaviors of adolescent. Parental over all control can protect risky sexual behaviors among adolescent.

Sexual initiation age and related risk-taking behaviours among adolescents in urban secondary schools in Nairobi County

Risky sexual behaviour such as early sexual initiation, inconsistent condom use and sexual intercourse with multiple partners are relatively prevalent among youths in sub-Saharan Africa. Sexual intercourse is an important event in one’s life trajectory and the contributory factors are: proximate and distal environments. The proximate environment includes micro systemic influences such as one's attitudes and beliefs, and extends to one's family. The distal environment includes one's community and culture. However, there are core forces which influence personal choices and behaviours like the self, family and community, and networks and cultural influences. While there are a variety of factors that contribute to early sexual initiation, proper parenting behaviour has been identified as a key strategy for reducing adolescents’ risky sexual behaviours. Even though early sexual initiation process is subject to a number of barriers, there is still less focus on parenting behaviour and its relationship with early sexual initiation among adolescents. Therefore, this study applied social survey to assess sexual initiation age and its related risk-taking behaviors among the adolescents in urban secondary schools in Nairobi County. The study found the common period in which adolescents initiate sex and even befriend strangers as age (15-16years). The findings have shown that children are capable of initiating drug use at any given period. This suggests the need for parent to undertake close monitoring of their children at all ages to curb drug abuse and encourage health talk with them on the effects of drug use.

Prevalence and determinants of risky behaviors: a comprehensive review of substance use and sexual risk behaviors among adolescents in the United States

Adolescents are often the most vulnerable to risky behaviors due to their quest for independence, experimentation, and identity development, resulting in deep-rooted patterns that affect health across the life course. This review examines the prevalence and determinants of substance use and sexual risk behaviors among adolescents in the United States. A systematic search of peer-reviewed literature published between 1980-2023 was conducted using multiple databases. Studies focusing on U.S. adolescents aged 12-19 and reporting on prevalence or associated factors of substance use (alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, or any illicit drugs) or sexual risk behaviors (early sexual initiation, multiple partners, or inconsistent condom use) were included. The review synthesized data from 40 studies meeting inclusion criteria. Results indicate concerning rates of substance use and sexual risk-taking, with variations by demographic factors. Alcohol and marijuana use were most prevalent, reported by 30-40% of adolescents. Nearly half of high school students reported having sexual intercourse, with 40% not using condoms consistently. Prevalence was generally higher among older adolescents, sexual minorities, and some racial minority groups. Key determinants of risk behaviors were reviewed based on socioecological models including individual, interpersonal, community and societal factors. The review highlights the multilevel nature of influences on adolescent risk behaviors. Findings underscore the need for tailored interventions addressing multiple determinants. Particular attention to vulnerable groups such as African American Adolescents and social determinants of health inequities is warranted. More research on risk and protective factors and effective interventions is needed. This synthesis can inform the development of evidence-based policies and programs to reduce substance use and sexual risk behaviors among U.S. adolescents.

Effect of early sexual initiation on early high fertility, termination of pregnancy and child death in Ethiopia using Ethiopian DHS 2000-2016

Effect of early sexual initiation on early high fertility, termination of pregnancy and child death in Ethiopia using Ethiopian DHS 2000-2016

Association Between Early Sexual Debut and New HIV Infections Among Adolescents and Young Adults in 11 African Countries

We investigated the association between early sexual debut and HIV infection among adolescents and young adults. Analyzing data from nationally representative Population-Based HIV Impact Assessment (PHIA) surveys in 11 African countries, the research employed a multivariate logistic regression model to assess the relationship between the early sexual debut and new HIV infections in the age group of 10–24 years. The results revealed a significant and robust association, indicating that young individuals who experienced early sexual debut were approximately 2.65 times more likely to contract HIV than those who did not, even after accounting for other variables. These findings align with prior research suggesting that early initiation of sexual activity may increase vulnerability to HIV infection due to factors such as biological susceptibility and risky behaviors like low condom use and multiple sexual partners. The implications of these findings for HIV prevention strategies are substantial, suggesting that interventions aimed at delaying sexual debut could be an effective component in reducing HIV risk for this population. Targeted sex education programs that address the risks of early sexual debut may play a pivotal role in these prevention efforts. By employing a comprehensive approach, there is a possibility to advance efforts towards ending AIDS by 2030.

Spatial distribution and determinants of Early sexual initiation in Ethiopia

Introduction: Early sexual initiation has negative health, social, and economic consequences for both women and future generations. The trend of early sexual initiation is increasing globally, leading to higher rates of sexually transmitted diseases and unplanned pregnancies. Ethiopia has been challenged various disasters that makes women vulnerable and position them at heightened risk of early sexual initiation in the last four years. The spatial patterns and factors of early sexual initiation in the post-conflict-post pandemic settings is not well understood. Hence this research aimed at mapping Spatial Patterns and identifying determinant factors in the Post-COVID-Post-Conflict Settings.MethodsThe study was conducted on secondary data from the PMA 2021 cross-sectional survey which conducted nationally from November 2021 to January 2022 which is in the post pandemic and post-war period. Total weighted sample of 6,036 reproductive age women were included in the analysis. ArcGIS Pro and SaTScan software were used to handle spatial analysis. Multilevel logistic regression model was used to estimate the effects of independent variables on early sexual initiation at individual and community level factors. Adjusted odds ratio with the 95% confidence interval was reported to declare the strength and statistical significance of the association.ResultThe spatial distribution of early sexual initiation was clustered in Ethiopia with a global Moran’s I index value of 0.09 and Z-score 6.01 (p-value < 0.001).Significant hotspots were detected in East Gojjam zone of Amhara region, Bale, Arsi, West Hararge, East Wellega and Horo Gudru Wellega zones of Oromia region. The odds of having early sexual initiation was higher in women with primary education (AOR = 1.23, 95%CI: 1.03, 1.47), secondary or above education (AOR = 4.36, 95%CI: 3.49, 5.44), Women aged 26 to 25 (AOR = 1.91, 95%CI: 1.61, 2.26), women aged 36 to 49(AOR = 1.51, 95%CI: 1.24, 1.84). However, there was a significant lower likelihood of early sexual initiation in rural resident women (AOR = 0.53, 95%CI: 0.35, 0.81) and women living in 5 to 7 family size (AOR = 0.79, 95%CI: 0.68, 0.92), and more than 7 members (AOR = 0.63, 95%CI: 0.49, 0.81).ConclusionsThe spatial distribution of early sexual initiation was clustered in Ethiopia. Interventions should be taken to eliminate the observed variation by mobilizing resources to high-risk areas. Policies and interventions targeted to this problem may also take the identified associated factors into account for better results.

Geographically weighted regression analysis to assess hotspots of early sexual initiation and associated factors in Ethiopia

BackgroundEarly sexual initiation (ESI) causes unintended pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections (STI), high risk of depression and anxiety, developmental delays, lack of emotional maturity, and difficulty in pursuing education. This study aims to analyze the geographically weighted regression and associated factors of ESI of women in Ethiopia. MethodsThe study utilized data from the Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey, 2016. It included a weighted sample of 11,775 women. Spatial regression was carried out to determine which factors are related to hotspots of ESI of women. To identify the factors associated with ESI, a multilevel Poisson regression model with robust variance was conducted. An adjusted prevalence ratio (APR) with its 95 % confidence interval was presented. ResultsThe prevalence of ESI was 75.3 % (95%CI: 74.6 %, 76.1 %), showing notable spatial variation across different regions of Ethiopia. Areas of significant hotspots of ESI were identified in Western and Southern Tigray, most parts of Amhara, Southern, Central and Western Afar, Eastern Gambella, and North Western SNNPR. The significant variables for the spatial variation of ESI were; being single, rural residence, and having no formal education of the women. Factors including; wealth index, marital status, khat chewing, education level, residence, and region were associated significantly with ESI in the multilevel robust Poisson analysis. ConclusionA higher proportion of ESI in women was found. Public health interventions must be made by targeting hotspot areas of ESI through increasing health care access and education (specifically among rural residents), developing a comprehensive sexual education, implementing policies and laws that outlaw early marriage, and mass community-based programs to increase awareness about the importance of delaying sexual activity.

Relación entre Violencia Física y Otras Formas de Maltrato Intrafamiliar en Mujeres Adolescentes Embarazadas

Besides the relationship with each other, forms of abuse are risk factors for the use of alcoholic beverages, early initiation of sexual activity, and early pregnancy. There are still gaps in the literature regarding maltreatment events in specific groups. This study aims to identify the relationship between physical violence and other forms of mistreatment in Malanje municipality pregnant teenagers from August 2nd to October 5th, 2022. It is quantitative survey of 137 participants in a single-stage cluster. Descriptive statistics, Pearson's chi-square test or Fisher's exact test, and multivariate analysis by logistic regression were applied at a 0.05 significance level. As results, the study demonstrates that pregnant adolescents living in rural areas were 5.38 times more likely to suffer physical violence than those from urban/ peri-urban areas. The experience of physical violence by study participants was associated with corporal punishment (AOR= 4.35; 95% CI. 1.86-10.18) and severe physical violence (AOR= 4.95; 95% CI. 1.24-19.80). No significant association was found between physical violence and psychological aggression (AOR= 1.81; 95% CI. 0.55-5.96). In conclusion, pregnant teenagers who are victims of non-violent abuse are equally vulnerable to violent acts. A permanent dialogue with families to promote violence-free education is needed, especially in more disadvantaged areas. Future studies should further explore geographic issues to generate more assertive strategies.

Correlates of early sex debut among adolescents and young women: A National cross-sectional study

Background Early sexual debut among adolescents and young women may predispose them to unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases. In Kenya, this consequently results in education discontinuation hence poverty levitation. Sexual debut has been studied in relation to HIV, school programs or review of demographic and health surveys. We report correlates of early sexual debut among women aged 15-24 years from a household-based survey in Kenya. Methods Performance, Monitoring for Action (PMA) is a cross-sectional survey using a multi-stage cluster design with urban-rural stratification. The sampling was done at the county level using probability proportional to size to select 11 counties and enumeration areas (EAs) achieving 308 EAs. Interviews were conducted from 35 randomly selected households, from which the eligible women were also interviewed. Descriptive statistics were generated to determine the social demographic characteristics of respondents, and bivariate analysis for the correlation of independent variables and early sexual debut. A logistic regression model was used to determine the association between social demographic characteristics and early sexual debut among women of 15-24 years old. P &lt;0.05 was considered significant. Results A total of 3,706 women were interviewed, and about 1 in 100 (10.2%) of the respondents reported having ever engaged in sexual intercourse before the age of 16 years. Educational level, ever-given birth, contraceptive use and wealth status were found to be statistically associated with early sexual initiation in Kenya. Women who reported having ever given birth had higher odds of early sexual initiation (AOR 2.36, 95% CI, 1.51-3.68, p&lt;0.005) than those who have never given birth. Respondents who were contraceptive users were 1.4 times more likely (AOR 1.39, 95% CI, 1.01-1.90, p&lt;0.001) to have experienced early sex debut than non-users. Conclusions Several individual factors influence early sexual debut, and hence interventions at the policy and program levels are required.

Prevalence and Determinants of Early Sexual Debut among Teenage Students: A Study in Kiryandongo District, Uganda

Early sexual debut among teenagers is a global concern, particularly prevalent in developing countries. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and factors associated with early sexual debut among teenage students at Kibanda Secondary School in Kiryandongo district, Uganda. A cross-sectional study was conducted, involving 150 respondents. Data were collected using self-administered questionnaires and analyzed using IBM SPSS 27.0. The prevalence of early sexual debut was found to be 20.0%, with predictors including age, sex, caregiver's education level and income, parental history of substance abuse, personal substance abuse, and first sexual partner. Female respondents were 2.17 times more likely to have an early sexual debut compared to males, and teenagers with a personal history of substance abuse were 4.03 times more likely to initiate sex early. Low caregiver education and income were also associated with early sexual debut. These findings underscore the need for targeted interventions and education programs to mitigate the risks associated with early sexual initiation among teenagers. Keywords: Early sexual debut, Sexual intercourse, Teenage, Students

Prevalence and Factors Associated with Teenage Pregnancy at Paynesville, Monrovia, Liberia: Facility Based Cross Section Study

Introduction: In Liberia, teenage pregnancy is a serious public health issue that causes social and economic hardship. Adolescent birth rates are among the highest in sub-Saharan Africa, according to statistics. There are significant differences in the prevalence of teenage pregnancy between and within nations. Most teenage pregnancies occur in places with poorer incomes and lower levels of education. The purpose of this research is to determine the prevalence of teenage pregnancy in Liberia and to investigate the risk factors related to it, particularly in the Paynesville city community of Duport Road cow field block "B.".&#x0D; Methods: The research that was done using the Duport Road Clinic as a resource center provided the data for this study. Fifty girls between the ages of 15 and 19 who visited the hospital and lived in the community throughout the study period were recruited as participants. Total population sampling was used to interview all 50 of the females. A population-based cross-sectional survey is used in this quantitative study to gather data, and IBM 20.0 SPSS was used for analysis.&#x0D; Results: According to the report, 50.2% of adolescent girls between the ages of 15 and 19 had started having children at the time of the survey. Teenage pregnancy in the community was significantly correlated with age (OR = 6.9; 95% CI: 4.647, 10.366, p – value 0.001), teenagers living with their parents (OR = 1.057; p &gt; 0.001), non-use of contraception (OR = 2.53; 95% CI: 1.739, 3.683), and teenage girls who were aware of contraceptive methods (OR = 2.86, 95% CI = 0.443, 18.463).&#x0D; Conclusion: In conclusion, a number of factors, including early sexual initiation, cohabitation, lack of education, and contraceptive non-use, contribute to the high rate of teenage pregnancy in Liberia. Interventions including encouraging the use of contraception, discouraging early sexual beginning, and setting up family planning clinics are advised in order to lessen its prevalence.

Prevalence and determinants of pregnancy termination in Ethiopia: a systematic review and meta-analysis

ObjectiveThis review aims to determine the prevalence of pregnancy termination and its determinant factors in Ethiopia.DesignSystematic review and meta-analysis.Data sourcesRelevant articles were retrieved from databases such as PubMed, EMBASE, Medline...

The Burden and Predictors of Early Sexual Initiation among School-Going Adolescents in Rural Settlements in Rivers State, Nigeria

Introduction. Early sexual initiation is the art of initiating sexual activity before age 15. This study aimed to identify the burden and predictors of early sexual initiation among school-­going adolescents in rural settlements in Rivers State, Nigeria. Materials and Methods. A cross-­sectional study was conducted among 420 school-­going senior secondary school adolescents of coeducational schools aged 15–19 from May 2023 to September 2023. A multi-­stage sampling procedure was used to select respondents from four senior secondary coeducational schools. Data were collected using a semi-structured interviewer-­assisted questionnaire. Frequency tables were generated and Logistic regression analysis was used to determine predictors of early sexual initiation at a 5% level of significance. Results. The mean age of respondents was 15.7 ± 0.8 years. The mean age at early sexual initiation was 12.2 ± 1.2 years. The burden of early sexual initiation and ever-had sex among the respondents was 46% and 54.8% respectively with poor academic performance, school dropout, STI infection, pregnancy, and HIV infection experienced as outcomes of first sexual initiation among the respondents. The statistically significant predictors of early sexual initiation were adolescents having worked for pay, currently working for pay, and adolescents’ age at first sexual partner (OR = 4.6; 95% CI = 1.6–12.7; P = 0.004, OR = 6.6; 95% CI = 1.9–23.7; P = 0.003 and OR = 3.1; 95% CI = 1.3–7.2; P = 0.009). Conclusion. Sexuality education and programmes aimed at encouraging school-­going adolescents to delay first-sex initiation should be encouraged.

The sexual and reproductive health covariates of early menarche among adolescent girls.

Research suggests that girls who reach menarche at an early age are at greater risk for negative sexual and reproductive health (SRH) outcomes than their later-maturing counterparts, but very little research has examined this issue in sub-Saharan Africa, especially in West Africa. The goal of the current study was to determine whether early menarche was associated with any SRH outcomes in a sample of Ghanaian girls. The study data were drawn from the baseline assessment of a longitudinal study involving two age cohorts (13-14 and 18-19 years) of 700 adolescent girls from Ghana. Logistic regressions were used to assess the association between early menarche (before age 13) and seven SRH outcomes (adolescent sexual activity, early sexual initiation, inconsistent condom use, transactional sex, sexual violence, multiple sexual partners, and adolescent pregnancy). Early menarche was significantly associated with adolescent sexual activity (odds ratio [OR] = 6.4; 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.1-19.7), and sexual violence (OR = 3.2; 95% CI 1.6-6.2) in the younger cohort and early sexual initiation (OR = 3.2; 95% CI 1.19-8.61) and multiple sexual partners (OR = 3.7; 95% CI 1.39-9.87) in the older cohort. Early menarche was also associated with transactional sex and teen pregnancy in the full sample. These findings suggest the need for special attention to the needs of early-maturing girls in SRH programming. Interventions are needed to delay adolescent sexual activity in girls with early menarche. Efforts to prevent sexual violence among adolescent girls in Ghana may benefit from targeting and addressing the specific needs of early-maturing girls.

Trends and the Gender Gap in the Reporting of Sexual Initiation Among 15-Year-Olds: A Comparison of 33 European Countries

ABSTRACT Early sexual intercourse initiation has been associated with immediate and long-term risks, which makes the study of trends in sexual initiation an important topic for policy makers. This study investigated trends over time in reported sexual initiation among 15-year-olds across 33 countries between 2010–2018. In addition, we examined if there were cross-country differences in the gender gap in reported sexual initiation in 2018, and whether these could be attributed to gender inequality and gender role attitudes. To answer these questions, we combined individual-level data from the international Health Behaviour in School-aged Children study collected in 2010 (N = 57,656), 2014 (N = 56,745) and 2018 (N = 55,127) with country-level data on gender inequality and gender role attitudes. We found a decrease over time in early sexual initiation in most countries, but also cross-country differences in these trends. More boys than girls reported sexual initiation in 2018. This gender gap also varied across countries and slightly decreased over time. In countries with less progressive gender role attitudes and more gender inequality, fewer girls reported early sexual initiation, resulting in a larger gender gap in these countries. To conclude, policy makers, healthcare providers and educators should focus on changing stereotypical gender norms.

Determinants of risky behaviour of 15-year-old adolescents in relation to early underage sexual initiation in Slovakia.

Determinants of risky behaviour of 15-year-old adolescents in relation to early underage sexual initiation in Slovakia.