Experiences and Predictors of First Sex Initiation among Early Adolescents in Koforidua Municipality, Ghana: A Convergent Parallel Mixed-Method Study
Background: Early sexual initiation among adolescents increases the risk of STDs, unwanted pregnancies, unsafe abortions, and despair. Aims: This study explored first sexual initiation experiences among early adolescents (11–15years) in Koforidua Municipality, Ghana. Methods: The study adopted a con...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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SAGE Publishing
2024-10-01
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| Series: | Journal of Psychosexual Health |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1177/26318318241306188 |
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| author | Richard Ofori Mary Sefa Boampong Dorcas Sekyi Andrew Nketsia Arthur Eric Henry Yeboah Seth Christopher Yaw Appiah |
| author_facet | Richard Ofori Mary Sefa Boampong Dorcas Sekyi Andrew Nketsia Arthur Eric Henry Yeboah Seth Christopher Yaw Appiah |
| author_sort | Richard Ofori |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Early sexual initiation among adolescents increases the risk of STDs, unwanted pregnancies, unsafe abortions, and despair. Aims: This study explored first sexual initiation experiences among early adolescents (11–15years) in Koforidua Municipality, Ghana. Methods: The study adopted a convergent parallel mixed method anchored on a cross-sectional and phenomenological design. A custom-designed questionnaire and interview guide, developed through a comprehensive review of literature were used for the data collection. The questionnaire constituted 20 items: 14 measured sexual debut experience and 6 assessed delayed sexual debuts at the categorical level. A total of 373 early adolescents responded to the questionnaire while 10 participants were interviewed. The quantitative data was analyzed using binary logistic regression with p -value <0.05 considered statistically significant and fitted into the model. The qualitative data was analyzed using thematic approach. Results: The prevalence of sexual debut among early adolescents was 23.9%, with the mean age of sexual debut being 11.7 years. Almost 34 (38.2%) of the sexual debutants felt good, while 47(52.9%) had no regret after initiating first sex. Nearly 30 (30.7%) of the sexual debutants have had sex with multiple partners. In a multilevel analysis, the adjusted odds ratio (AOR) revealed that early adolescents who were dating [(AOR = 5.564 (95.0% CI: 2.512–12.324), P = .000] are five times more likely to initiate first sex compared to those who were not dating. Early adolescents who are residing in Srodae [(AOR = 5.144 (95.0% CI: 1.052–5.098), p = .037] are significantly more likely to initiate first sex compared to those residing in Betom and Zongo community. Conclusion: Providing culturally relevant age-appropriate and comprehensive sexuality education programs in schools and out-of-school early adolescents remains an effective strategy for addressing the sexual needs of early adolescents. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-71d5bad64bdb4560a9ddecb4023a2134 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2631-8318 2631-8326 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-10-01 |
| publisher | SAGE Publishing |
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| series | Journal of Psychosexual Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-71d5bad64bdb4560a9ddecb4023a21342025-08-20T02:31:59ZengSAGE PublishingJournal of Psychosexual Health2631-83182631-83262024-10-01610.1177/26318318241306188Experiences and Predictors of First Sex Initiation among Early Adolescents in Koforidua Municipality, Ghana: A Convergent Parallel Mixed-Method StudyRichard Ofori0Mary Sefa Boampong1Dorcas Sekyi2Andrew Nketsia Arthur3Eric Henry Yeboah4Seth Christopher Yaw Appiah5 Department of Sociology and Social Work, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana Department of Sociology and Social Work, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana Department of Sociology and Social Work, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana Department of Sociology and Social Work, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana Department of Sociology and Social Work, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana Department of Sociology and Social Work, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, GhanaBackground: Early sexual initiation among adolescents increases the risk of STDs, unwanted pregnancies, unsafe abortions, and despair. Aims: This study explored first sexual initiation experiences among early adolescents (11–15years) in Koforidua Municipality, Ghana. Methods: The study adopted a convergent parallel mixed method anchored on a cross-sectional and phenomenological design. A custom-designed questionnaire and interview guide, developed through a comprehensive review of literature were used for the data collection. The questionnaire constituted 20 items: 14 measured sexual debut experience and 6 assessed delayed sexual debuts at the categorical level. A total of 373 early adolescents responded to the questionnaire while 10 participants were interviewed. The quantitative data was analyzed using binary logistic regression with p -value <0.05 considered statistically significant and fitted into the model. The qualitative data was analyzed using thematic approach. Results: The prevalence of sexual debut among early adolescents was 23.9%, with the mean age of sexual debut being 11.7 years. Almost 34 (38.2%) of the sexual debutants felt good, while 47(52.9%) had no regret after initiating first sex. Nearly 30 (30.7%) of the sexual debutants have had sex with multiple partners. In a multilevel analysis, the adjusted odds ratio (AOR) revealed that early adolescents who were dating [(AOR = 5.564 (95.0% CI: 2.512–12.324), P = .000] are five times more likely to initiate first sex compared to those who were not dating. Early adolescents who are residing in Srodae [(AOR = 5.144 (95.0% CI: 1.052–5.098), p = .037] are significantly more likely to initiate first sex compared to those residing in Betom and Zongo community. Conclusion: Providing culturally relevant age-appropriate and comprehensive sexuality education programs in schools and out-of-school early adolescents remains an effective strategy for addressing the sexual needs of early adolescents.https://doi.org/10.1177/26318318241306188 |
| spellingShingle | Richard Ofori Mary Sefa Boampong Dorcas Sekyi Andrew Nketsia Arthur Eric Henry Yeboah Seth Christopher Yaw Appiah Experiences and Predictors of First Sex Initiation among Early Adolescents in Koforidua Municipality, Ghana: A Convergent Parallel Mixed-Method Study Journal of Psychosexual Health |
| title | Experiences and Predictors of First Sex Initiation among Early Adolescents in Koforidua Municipality, Ghana: A Convergent Parallel Mixed-Method Study |
| title_full | Experiences and Predictors of First Sex Initiation among Early Adolescents in Koforidua Municipality, Ghana: A Convergent Parallel Mixed-Method Study |
| title_fullStr | Experiences and Predictors of First Sex Initiation among Early Adolescents in Koforidua Municipality, Ghana: A Convergent Parallel Mixed-Method Study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Experiences and Predictors of First Sex Initiation among Early Adolescents in Koforidua Municipality, Ghana: A Convergent Parallel Mixed-Method Study |
| title_short | Experiences and Predictors of First Sex Initiation among Early Adolescents in Koforidua Municipality, Ghana: A Convergent Parallel Mixed-Method Study |
| title_sort | experiences and predictors of first sex initiation among early adolescents in koforidua municipality ghana a convergent parallel mixed method study |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1177/26318318241306188 |
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