Early sexual debut among young men in rural South Africa: heightened vulnerability to sexual risk?

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2005Author
Harrison, Abigail.
Cleland, J.
Gouws, Eleanor.
Fröhlich, Janet Ann.
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Objective: This report examines early sexual debut (<age 15) among young men in rural South Africa including (1) risk
behaviours at first sexual experience, and (2) age at first sex as a predictor of later sexual risk. Methods: Analysis of sexual behaviour data for men 15–24 years (n = 314) from representative cross sectional household survey. Results: 13.1% of 15–24 year old men experienced sexual debut before age 15. Men with sexual debut at less than age 15 were more likely to report risk behaviours at first sexual experience: no condom use (19%), a casual partner (26.8%), and not feeling they had been ‘‘ready and wanted to have sex’’ (19.5%). In multivariate analysis, early sexual debut was strongly associated with >3 partners in the past 3 years (OR = 10.26, p<0.01). Conclusions: Men who initiate sex before age 15 form a distinct risk group in this setting. Specific interventions are needed for young men in the preteen years, before sexual debut.
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