Harrison, Abigail.Cleland, J.Gouws, Eleanor.Fröhlich, Janet Ann.2013-05-062013-05-0620052005Harrison, A., et al. 2005. Early sexual debut among young men in rural South Africa: heightened vulnerability to sexual risk? Sex Transm Infect. 81(3) pp. 259–261.1368-4973http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/sti.2004.011486http://hdl.handle.net/10413/8829Objective: 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.enAIDS (Disease)--Sex factors.Men--Sexual behaviour--South Africa.Youth--Sexual behaviour--South Africa.Teenagers--Sexual behaviour--South Africa.Sexual debut.Rural South Africa.Preteen men.Sexual risk behaviours.Peer reviewed journal article