Trop Med Int Health. 2019 Nov 6. doi: 10.1111/tmi.13329.
Nnakate Bukenya J1, Nakafeero M1, Ssekamatte T1, Isabirye N1, Guwatudde D1, Fawzi W2.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE:
Globally as adolescents transition into adulthood, some engage in risky sexual behaviours. Such risky behaviours expose adolescents to unintended pregnancy and sexually-transmitted infections (STIs), including HIV infection. Our objective was to examine sexual practices of adolescents (aged 10-19 years) in eastern Uganda and identify factors associated with having ever had sexual intercourse.
METHODS:
Face-to-face interviews were conducted using a standardized questionnaire among randomly selected adolescents residing within the Iganga-Mayuge Health and Demographic Surveillance Site in eastern Uganda. Crude and adjusted prevalence rate ratios (PRR) were estimated using the Modified Poisson regression model to identify factors associated with adolescents having ever had sex.
RESULTS:
Of the 598 adolescents studied, 108 (18.1%) reported ever having had sexual intercourse, of whom 20 (18.5%) had ever gotten pregnant. Adolescents who reported to be out of school, 76 (12.7%), were more likely to have ever had sexual intercourse (PRR=1.82, CI=1.09-3.01). Females were less likely to ever have had sexual intercourse (PRR 0.69 (0.51-0.93) than males. History of ever having had sexual intercourse was associated with adolescents sexting (PRR=1.54, CI: 1.14-2.08), watching sexually explicit films (PRR=2.29 Cl: 1.60 – 3.29), and experiencing verbal jokes about sexual intentions (PRR=1.76, Cl: 1.27 – 2.44).
CONCLUSIONS:
A majority of participants reported not being sexually active; however, interventions should be required for both sexually active and not sexually active adolescents. Programs targeted at adolescents in this and similar communities should include comprehensive sex education, and contraceptive distribution among adolescents. In particular, urgent interventions are needed to guide adolescents as they use social media.
KEYWORDS: Adolescents; Uganda; sexting; sexual practices; sub-Saharan Africa
PMID: 31692197
DOI: 10.1111/tmi.13329
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