TY - JOUR
T1 - Sexual initiation among adolescents (10 to 14 years old) and health behaviors
AU - Gonçalves, Helen
AU - Machado, Eduardo Coelho
AU - Soares, Ana Luiza Gonçalves
AU - Camargo-Figuera, Fabio Alberto
AU - Seering, Lenise Menezes
AU - Mesenburg, Marília Arndt
AU - Guttier, Marília Cruz
AU - Barcelos, Raquel Siqueira
AU - Buffarini, Romina
AU - Assunção, Maria Cecília Formoso
AU - Hallal, Pedro Curi
AU - Menezes, Ana Maria Baptista
PY - 2015/2/5
Y1 - 2015/2/5
N2 - OBJECTIVE: To assess the prevalence of sexual initiation until the age of 14 years old, as well as sociodemographic and behavioral factors.METHODS: In 2008, 4,325 from the 5,249 adolescents of the 1993 birth cohort in Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, were interviewed. Sexual initiation was defined as the first intercourse up to the age of 14 years old. The information was obtained by interviewing adolescents in their houses, during the 2008 follow-up. The analyzed variables were: skin color, asset index, maternal and adolescents' schooling, experimental use of tobacco and alcohol, drunkenness episode, use of any illicit drug, illegal drug use by friends and involvement in fights during the past year. Use of condoms and contraceptive methods, number of partners and the age of sexual initiation were also analyzed.RESULTS: The prevalence of sexual initiation by the age of 14 was of 18.6%. Lower schooling, asset index and maternal education were related to higher prevalence of sexual initiation until the age of 14, as well as being male or being born to adolescent mothers. Sexual intercourse was also related to the behavioral variables analyzed. Among adolescent girls who had intercourse up to the age of 14, 30% did not use contraception and 18% did not use condoms in the last sexual intercourse. Boys reported a higher number of sexual partners than girls.CONCLUSION: The results suggest a relationship between sexual intercourse (≤ 14 years) and some health-risk behaviors. The non-use of condoms and contraceptives may make them vulnerable to experiencing unwanted situations. Education and sociocultural strategies for health should be implemented from the beginning of adolescence.
AB - OBJECTIVE: To assess the prevalence of sexual initiation until the age of 14 years old, as well as sociodemographic and behavioral factors.METHODS: In 2008, 4,325 from the 5,249 adolescents of the 1993 birth cohort in Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, were interviewed. Sexual initiation was defined as the first intercourse up to the age of 14 years old. The information was obtained by interviewing adolescents in their houses, during the 2008 follow-up. The analyzed variables were: skin color, asset index, maternal and adolescents' schooling, experimental use of tobacco and alcohol, drunkenness episode, use of any illicit drug, illegal drug use by friends and involvement in fights during the past year. Use of condoms and contraceptive methods, number of partners and the age of sexual initiation were also analyzed.RESULTS: The prevalence of sexual initiation by the age of 14 was of 18.6%. Lower schooling, asset index and maternal education were related to higher prevalence of sexual initiation until the age of 14, as well as being male or being born to adolescent mothers. Sexual intercourse was also related to the behavioral variables analyzed. Among adolescent girls who had intercourse up to the age of 14, 30% did not use contraception and 18% did not use condoms in the last sexual intercourse. Boys reported a higher number of sexual partners than girls.CONCLUSION: The results suggest a relationship between sexual intercourse (≤ 14 years) and some health-risk behaviors. The non-use of condoms and contraceptives may make them vulnerable to experiencing unwanted situations. Education and sociocultural strategies for health should be implemented from the beginning of adolescence.
KW - Adolescent
KW - Adult
KW - Child
KW - Female
KW - Follow-Up Studies
KW - Health Behavior
KW - Humans
KW - Live Birth
KW - Prevalence
KW - Risk Factors
KW - Sexual Behavior
KW - Young Adult
KW - Journal Article
KW - Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
U2 - 10.1590/1980-5497201500010003
DO - 10.1590/1980-5497201500010003
M3 - Article (Academic Journal)
C2 - 25651009
SN - 1415-790X
VL - 18
SP - 25
EP - 41
JO - Revista Brasileira de Epidemiologia
JF - Revista Brasileira de Epidemiologia
IS - 1
ER -