Factors associated with sexual initiation among adolescent girls in Central Uganda

Abstract

The rising occurrence of teens` early sexual initiation is one of the most alarming public health concerns, worldwide. Regardless of the proclamation of the jeopardy of early sex, adolescent increasingly pick interest in sexual initiation at a very early age than ever before. Therefore, this study intends to identify the factors that have contributed to early sexual imitation in Central Uganda. The study used secondary data. The analysis was done at two levels that is to say univariate analysis and bi-variate analysis. The study findings indicate that the prevalence of early sexual initiation among adolescents in Central Uganda was almost 50 percent. Univariate analysis indicates that respondents from the richest family were the majority standing. The majority of the respondents had attained secondary education. More than a quarter of the respondents were Catholic. More than three quarters of the respondents had a boyfriend. More than three quarters of the respondents (81.5%) never been in any union. More than three quarter of the respondents were never forced into sexual act and more than three quarter of the respondents were never in union. Bi-variate analysis indicates that the demographic factors that influenced early sexual imitation significantly were marital status and number of union and. As regards the social- economic factors, those that had significant influence were education level of the respondent, wealth index and religion. Due to the high prevalence of early sexual imitation, there is need for re enforcement of policies about adolescents, raise awareness to the public about the dangers of early sexual imitation and address adolescents about sexual and reproductive health. In addition, the church in partnership with other organizations can actively emphasize the abstinence till marriage.