Sexual Behavior Of Adolescents Research Articles

The impact of sex education on HIV knowledge and condom use among adolescent females in the Dominican Republic

The Dominican Republic has witnessed a significant increase of HIV/AIDS in recent years, particularly among young women. Prior research suggested that sex education could be an effective tool in combating risky sexual behaviors in adolescents; yet, most of this research has been conducted with Caucasian study populations, resulting in limited generalizability to Latino populations. The present study sought to address this gap by examining the effects of sex education on HIV/AIDS knowledge and condom use among young women in the Dominican Republic. Data were analyzed from 1,608 female adolescent and young adult respondents to the ENJOVEN survey. Logistic regression models were used to investigate the relation between exposure to sex education and HIV/AIDS knowledge, current and consistent condom use. Respondents who reported receiving sex education were 1.72 times more likely to have high HIV/AIDS knowledge than respondents who reported not receiving sex education (CI: 1.36-2.18, p = .000). Respondents who reported receiving sex education were 2.52 times more likely to report currently using condoms than respondents who reported not receiving sex education (CI: 1.65-3.85, p = .000). The results provide additional evidence that sex education programs are effective at increasing HIV/AIDS knowledge and condom use in young Dominican women.

Psychometric Validation of a Condom Self-efficacy Scale in Korean

When an instrument is translated for use in cross-cultural research, it needs to account for cultural factors without distorting the psychometric properties of the instrument. To validate the psychometric properties of the condom self-efficacy scale (CSE) originally developed for American adolescents and young adults after translating the scale to Korean (CSE-K) to determine its suitability for cross-cultural research among Korean college students. A cross-sectional, correlational design was used with an exploratory survey methodology through self-report questionnaires. A convenience sample of 351 students, aged 18 to 25 years, were recruited at a university in Seoul, Korea. The participants completed the CSE-K and the intention of condom use scales after they were translated from English to Korean using a combined translation technique. A demographic and sex history questionnaire, which included an item to assess actual condom usage, was also administered. Mean, variance, reliability, criterion validity, and factorial validity using confirmatory factor analysis were assessed in the CSE-K. Norms for the CSE-K were similar, but not identical, to norms for the English version. The means of all three subscales were lower for the CSE-K than for the original CSE; however, the obtained variance in CSE-K was roughly similar with the original CSE. The Cronbach's alpha coefficient for the total scale was higher for the CSE-K (.91) than that for either the CSE (.85) or CSE in Thai (.85). Criterion validity and construct validity of the CSE-K were confirmed. The CSE-K was a reliable and valid scale in measuring condom self-efficacy among Korean college students. The findings suggest that the CSE was an appropriate instrument to conduct cross-cultural research on sexual behavior in adolescents and young adults.

Effect of Sex Education Programme on at-risk sexual behaviour of school-going adolescents in Ilorin, Nigeria.

Adolescents display sexual behaviours and developmental characteristics that place them at risk for Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs). Because young people experiment sexually and because of the consequences of indiscriminate sexual activities on the youth, there is the need to mount sex education programmes that are geared towards enlightenment and appropriate education about sex and sexuality. To determine whether Sex Education Intervention Programme would reduce at-risk sexual behaviours of school-going adolescents. Pre-test, post-test control group quasi-experimental design. A randomly selected co-educational school in Ilorin Metropolis, Nigeria. 24 school-going adolescents aged 13-19 years. Sex Education Programme (treatment group) versus Control programme (placebo). Self-reported exposure to sexually transmitted diseases, multiple sex partners, anal sex, oral sex, non use of condom. When the treatment (intervention) group was compared with the control group in an intention to treat analysis, there were significant differences in at-risk sexual behaviours of the two groups. Those in the intervention group reported less at-risk sexual behaviours than their counterparts in the control group. The treatment group evaluated the intervention programme positively and their knowledge of sexual health improved. Lack of behavioural effect on the control group could be linked to differential quality of delivery of intervention. Compared with the control group, this specially designed intervention sex education programme reduced at-risk sexual behaviour in adolescents. Based on this finding, it was recommended that sex education be introduced into the curriculum of secondary school education in Nigeria.

Contemporary Clothing Habits and Sexual Behaviour of Adolescents’ in South Western Nigeria

Adolescence period is characterised by various incidences. This allows for confirmed inferences of different magnitude. This study looked into contemporary clothing habits and sexual behaviour of a...

Brief report: Risky sexual behavior of adolescents in Belgrade: Association with socioeconomic status and family structure

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the association between socioeconomic status and family structure with risky sexual behaviors in adolescents. Methods: A total of 1782 15-year-old Belgrade schoolchildren (47.5% boys and 52.5% girls) completed a questionnaire from the WHO study, “Health behavior of schoolchildren”. Results: Adolescents with a higher weekly disposable income, those who perceived their family as wealthy, and those with difficulties in communication with their mothers were more likely to have had been sexually active (odds ratios (OR)=2.497, 1.876, and 1.253, respectively). Adolescents with a higher weekly disposable income were more likely to use contraception (OR=0.233), but those who perceived their families as better-off and those living with only one parent were more likely not to use contraception (OR=4.794, 22.295 [living with father], and 6.169 [living with mother], respectively). Conclusions: The perceived family wealth was significantly associated with having sexual intercourse and having sexual intercourse without using contraception. Family structure had a limited independent association with sexual behavior.

Understanding Failure of Condom Use Intention Among Adolescents

Although interventions based on cognitive theories can reduce rates of unsafe sexual behavior in adolescents, effect sizes remain small. This study was a qualitative investigation of inner-city adolescents' intentions to use condoms following participation in an intensive safer sex program. In-depth interviews with 26 adolescents were analyzed using standard qualitative methods. Although participants reported strong intentions to use condoms, they described many exceptions to their intention. Condom use intentions were also trumped by the presence of alternative, often conflicting intentions. Typical barriers to condom use played a minor role compared to exceptions and competing intentions. Boys and girls differed in the ways exception to intention and alternate intentions interfered with condom use; these reflected gender roles and norms, which are often neglected in HIV/STD prevention programs. The authors conclude that the barrier model to explain non-condom use is incomplete and that the concept of intention itself may need more conceptual work.

Djamba, Yanyi K. (ed.): Sexual Behavior of Adolescents in Contemporary Sub-Saharan Africa

Anthropos , Seite 254 - 255

Sexual behaviour in adolescents and young people attending a sexually transmitted disease clinic, Ile Ife, Nigeria

WHO estimates that 20% of persons living with HIV/AIDS are in their 20s and one out of twenty adolescents contract a sexually transmitted disease (STD) each year. A total of 303 adolescents and youths (10-24 years of age) attending an STD clinic were subjected to a questionnaire to assess sexual behavioural patterns that predisposed them to STD. Scope of the questions included age at initiation of sexual intercourse, partner at first exposure, number of sexual partners, use of condoms, exposure to commercial sex workers (CSWs), previous infection with STDs and role of alcohol. Their diagnosis was based on history, clinical findings and laboratory confirmation. Adolescents and youths accounted for 30% of the total number of patients attending the STD clinic during this period. The male to female ratio was 1:0.95. Ninety-six percent (290) were single while 4% (13) were married. Seventy-two percent (217) were students. Age at onset of sexual activity was 10-20 years in 80%, 85% practiced risky sexual behaviour, patronising casual partners was frequent especially after alcohol use, 10% had been exposed to CSWs, condom use was poor, number of sexual partners varied between 1 and 5 and previous infections were not professionally treated. Adolescents and young people are sexually active and practice risky sexual behavioural patterns. Adolescents and youths account for a high percentage of patients patronising the STD clinic. Sexual education and youth friendly reproductive health services are urgently needed to curb the spread of HIV/AIDS/STDs.

Effect of Sex Education Programme on At-Risk Sexual Behaviours of School-Going Adolescents in Ilorin, Nigeria

Objective: To determine whether Sex Education Intervention Programme would reduce at-risk sexual behaviours of school-going adolescents. Design: Pre-test, post-test control group experimental design Setting: A randomly selected co-educational school in Ilorin Metropolis, Nigeria Participants: 24 school-going adolescents aged 13-19 years Intervention: Sex Education Programme (treatment group) versus Control programme (placebo) Main Outcome Measures: Self-reported exposure to sexually transmitted disease, multiple sex partners, anal sex, oral sex, non use of condom. Results: When the treatment (intervention) group was compared with the control group in an intention to treat analysis, there were significant differences in at-risk sexual behaviours of the two groups. Those in the intervention group reported less at-risk sexual behaviours than their counterparts in the control group. The treatment group evaluated the intervention programme positively and their knowledge of sexual health improved. Lack of behavioural effect on the control group could be linked to differential quality of delivery of intervention. Conclusion: Compared with the control group, this specially designed intervention sex education programme reduced at-risk sexual behaviour in adolescents. Based on this finding, it was recommended that sex education be introduced into the curriculum of secondary school education in Nigeria. Keywords:Sex Education; At-Risk Sexual Behaviour; School-Going Adolescents, Nigeria. The Nigerian Journal of Guidance and Counselling Vol. 11 (1) 2006: pp. 34-42

Depression Linked to High-Risk Sexual Behavior in Adolescents

Depression Linked to High-Risk Sexual Behavior in Adolescents

Improved access to emergency contraception did not increase risky sexual behaviour in adolescents

Improved access to emergency contraception did not increase risky sexual behaviour in adolescents

Comportamientos sexuales e incidencia de los programas de salud sexual y reproductiva en estudiantes de secundaria de sectores populares y de la universidad pública en la ciudad de Cali, Colombia

In order to qualitatively evaluate sexual behaviors or practices and the incidence of sexual and reproductive health programs in adolescent and postadolescent users educated in Cali, Colombia, two quota samples were carried out, one in schools in poor neighborhoods of the city and one at Valle University (UNIVALLE). In addition, a limited number of twelve open interviews was made among two different student population groups, the schools and the university. The study addresses the sexual behaviors of adolescents and postadolescents, contraceptive methods and prevention of STDs and HIV/AIDS, and the uses of sexual and reproductive health programs by both populations, controlling for social class (socioeconomic stratum), gender, and race. Two sexual and reproductive health programs were taken as reference: that of PROFAMILIA (Pro-Wellbeing of the Colombian Family Association), and the sexual and reproductive health program of the University Medical Service of the UNIVALLE. Results show how the behaviors and responses to sexual and reproductive health programs are mediated by multiple sociological categories that orient the analysis.

Friends’ religiosity and first sex

Researchers have established that individual religiosity influences sexual behavior and that religious support can increase consistency between personal religiosity and behavior. Researchers are less certain, however, of the effect that religious friendship networks have on sexual behavior. In addition, the effects of network characteristics such as density and one’s position in a social network have not been established. This paper uses a network subsample of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health) to examine the effect of friends’ religiosity on the probability of first sex. We find that friends’ religiosity has an independent influence on adolescent sexual behavior that is similar in magnitude to personal religiosity. We also find evidence that friends’ religiosity has the strongest influence on the sexual behavior of adolescents who are embedded in dense social networks, in which teens’ friends are also friends with one another. These results support the hypothesis that group influences depend on the degree of embeddedness within the network and highlight the importance of studying religion as a property of groups as well as individuals.

Bacterial Sexually Transmitted Infections in Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual Adolescents: Medical and Public Health Perspectives

Gay, lesbian, and bisexual adolescents, like all adolescents who engage in high-risk sexual behaviors, are at elevated risk for acquiring sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Personal sexual risk factors and issues related to access to care complicate the lives of youth who engage in same-gender sexual activity and who may or may not self-identify as gay, lesbian, or bisexual. Whereas epidemiologic rates of gonorrhea, chlamydia, and syphilis generally have trended downward in adolescents as a whole during the past 15 years, rates for these common reportable bacterial STIs have increased overall during recent years among men who have sex with men. This article focuses on bacterial STIs in youth with same-gender sexual activity. An understanding of trends among gay, lesbian, and bisexual youth remains incomplete, given the absence of consistent and uniform mechanisms for collecting data on sexual behaviors in adolescents and difficulties in associating these behaviors with reportable STIs. Special attention should be given to the screening, diagnosis, and treatment of bacterial STIs in those who engage in same-sex behavior, as new recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have been made available. It is critical that healthcare providers who work with adolescents be aware of the assortment of specific healthcare needs of gay, lesbian, and bisexual youth and address them appropriately in the clinical setting. Medical providers may be one of few true advocates for this often-marginalized adolescent population and have the power to have a positive influence on health promotion and education efforts.

Assessing sexual behavior in high-risk adolescents with the adolescent clinical sexual behavior inventory (ACSBI).

This study examined the reliability and validity of the Adolescent Clinical Sexual Behavior Inventory (ACSBI), a new 45-item measure, designed to elicit parent-and self-report regarding a range of sexual behaviors in high-risk adolescents. Using this measure, this study also investigated predictors of adolescent sexual behavior. Participants were 174 adolescents and their parents consecutively admitted to one of three clinical settings (i.e., inpatient treatment, partial hospital program, and outpatient clinic). Parent-and self-reports of adolescent sexual behavior were moderately correlated, and there was a strong relationship between high-risk sexual behavior and adolescent emotional and behavioral problems, as well as sexual concerns, distress, and preoccupation. In addition to sexual abuse, physical abuse, life stress, and impaired family relationships also significantly predicted sexual behavior in adolescents.

Fast tracking for critical issues in adolescent health and medicine

In this issue of the Journal of Adolescent Health, we have published our first fast track article. The article by Santelli and his colleagues documents an important trend in sexual behavior [1Santelli J.S. Abma J. Ventura S. et al.Can changes in sexual behavior among high school students explain the decline in teen pregnancy rates in the 1990s?.J Adolesc Health. 2004; 35: 80-90Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (92) Google Scholar]. We purposely “fast-tracked” this paper because of the timely nature of the findings. Currently, there is a national dialogue occurring about sexual behavior in adolescents and young adults. This debate needs to be informed by science. The fast tracking system has been developed by the Journal in order to facilitate and encourage the submission of manuscripts that are of very high quality, have documented findings that may change the content of clinical practice, have findings that may assist with the national and/or international dialogue about critical issues affecting adolescents and young adults, and most importantly cannot wait for our regular review process. Let me tell you how the fast track system works. When an author identifies his or her submitted manuscript as deserving of fast track treatment, the manuscript is forwarded to one of our Associate Editors for an internal review. That Associate Editor will make a determination within 3 days of submission as to whether or not the manuscript deserves expedited review. There are three possible outcomes: (1) fast tracking, (2) regular review process, and (3) rejection. If the article is fast tracked, it is immediately forwarded to two reviewers from our Editorial Board, who are given 2 weeks to conduct the review. We will notify the manuscript's author within 3 weeks from the time of submission regarding the outcome of the review. If the review is favorable with revisions, we will require that the author effect those revisions within 2 weeks. Once the review process is complete, our publisher, Elsevier, will apply a corresponding fast track production process. All in all, we should be able to move a fast track article from submission to publication in about 4 months. Fast tracking is a rare event and should not be viewed as a mechanism to obtain an expedited review. Each author needs to answer a basic question when requesting this track: “How will bringing this information to the health community in an immediate fashion improve the health and well being of adolescents and young adults?”

Relationship Between Methamphetamine Use and Risky Sexual Behavior in Adolescents

Substance abuse and risky sexual behavior have been identified as behaviors that can endanger adolescent psychosocial development. This study examined the relationship between methamphetamine (MAMP) use and risky sexual behavior in adolescents. Risky sexual behavior was compared not only between MAMP users and non-users, but also between high-frequency and low-frequency MAMP users. We compared the sexual intercourse histories of 85 adolescents formally charged as MAMP users with those of 170 gender-matched adolescents with no record of MAMP use. MAMP usage characteristics were compared between users who had and those who had not experienced sexual intercourse. Previous sexual experience was more likely in MAMP users than in non-users. MAMP users were also more likely to have had a greater total number of sexual partners and were more likely to have had unplanned sex under the influence of alcohol. High-frequency MAMP use was associated with increased tendencies to engage in unprotected sex and to use MAMP before sexual intercourse. In general, the chance of sexual intercourse increased in proportion to frequency of MAMP use. Given the clear link between MAMP use and risky sexual behavior, risk-reduction programs directed at teen MAMP users are urgently needed.

Sexual behaviour of adolescents

Numerous studies have shown that sexual behaviour increases among adolescents. Disharmony between biological and psychosocial maturity among young people may cause risky behavior, and endanger psychophysical and reproductive health of young persons. A questionnaire on sexual behaviour was completed by 169 adolescents, 1st and 4th year high school students. Every 6th first grade and every 2nd fourth grade adolescent is sexually active. Male adolescents begin sexual activities significantly earlier (at the age of 15.6) than female adolescents (16.5). Also, young men have significantly more partners (3.6) than girls (1.3), and more parallel sexual relations than girls. Only 1/3 of sexually active adolescents always use some kind of contraception, more frequently boys (41.9%) than girls (26.7%). Early commencement of sexual activity results with longer active period before realization of the reproductive function, which increases risk for reproductive health disorders. Unprotected sexual intercourse and large number of partners also present significant risk factors. Sexual life of adolescents begins at the age of 16, on average, and only every third always uses contraceptive protection, which points to a need for better education on reproductive health by using contemporary methods. It is also necessary to increase availability of contraceptives (condoms) at all places where adolescents spend time (in schools, bars, cinemas, disco clubs etc.) in order to achieve responsible sexual behavior and protection of reproductive health among youth.

Comportamientos sexuales y uso de preservativos en adolescentes de nuestro entorno

To identify sexual behaviour in adolescents. Transversal, descriptive study, by means of an anonymous structured questionnaire. Urban secondary school. Simple random sample of 84 students (4th year of ESO--c. 15/16 years old). Personal details, sexual practices, use of condoms. 61.9% were girls. Average age was 16.4 (95% CI, 16.2-16.6). They had a girl/boy-friend or casual partner (33.7%) and stable partner (60.7%). 82.2% had total or sufficient trust. Boys' first masturbation was between 14 and 16 (46.8%). 100% had done so by the age of 16. 72.3% of girls had never masturbated at this age (P<.001).Boys' first kiss on the lips occurred between 14 and 16 (46.8%); 100% had done so by 16. 60.7% of girls had done so between 14 and 16, and 92.2% by 16.30.1% of boys had had their first experience of coitus by the age of the questionnaire, whereas 22.5% of girls had. Both sexes used a condom on 71.4% of occasions.38.1% had sex with penetration, 46.2% masturbated. 22.2% had had 2 sexual partners, 8.9% had had 3, and 40.0% had had 4 or more. Condoms were used in 83.3% of relationships with penetration. This is a sexually active population, susceptible to sexually transmitted diseases (STD) and unwanted pregnancies, as it does not use condoms in every relationship involving penetration. Health education activities need to be encouraged.

Self-reported alcohol use and sexual behaviors of adolescents.

Research has demonstrated a relation between alcohol use and engaging in high-risk sexual behaviors. Alcohol use, especially binge drinking, has been linked to a host of problems including high-risk sexual behavior, date rape, and academic problems. As such, the purpose of this study was to provide a descriptive profile of alcohol consumption among adolescents and to examine the relations of alcohol use (lifetime, current, binge) with sexual activity variables (sexual initiation, multiple sex partners, condom use, and pregnancy) among adolescents completing the 1993-1999 Youth Risk Behavior Survey. Analysis showed alcohol use was associated with high-risk sexual activity. Binge drinking had stronger relations with sexual activity variables than lifetime use and current use of alcohol. This result is of particular concern, in that binge drinking has been implicated in many problem behaviors. As such, it is of great importance to intervene in the high-risk practices of adolescents before problems occur.