Early sexual debut among young men in rural South Africa: heightened vulnerability to sexual risk?
Harrison, A.; Cleland, J.; Gouws, E.; Frohlich, J.
Sexually Transmitted Infections 81(3): 259-261
2005
ISSN/ISBN: 1368-4973 PMID: 15923298 DOI: 10.1136/sti.2004.011486Document Number: 253489
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. Analysis of sexual behaviour data for men 15-24 years (n = 314) from representative cross sectional household survey. 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 > or = 3 partners in the past 3 years (OR = 10.26, p<0.01). Men who initiate sex before age 15 form a distinct risk group in this setting. Specific interventions are needed for young men in the pre-teen years, before sexual debut.