| dc.description.abstract | This comprehensive study delves into the multifaceted dynamics influencing early sexual debut among adolescents in Apac district, incorporating both Univariate and bivariate analyses. Univariate findings elucidate critical demographics, socioeconomic factors, and behavioral patterns contributing to the phenomenon. In the bivariate realm, we meticulously examine associations between independent variables – including gender, wealth status, and marital status, discussions on Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health (ASRH) with peers (peer pressure), living arrangements, and education level – with a particular emphasis on child marriages.
Multivariate findings showed a significant association between the circumstance of sex being marriage (child marriages) and early sexual debut, marked by a statistically significant odds ratio of 17.3576 (95% CI=1.47054-204.882, p=0.023). However, caution is advised due to an inflated odds ratio attributed to perfect separation.
Moreover, discussions about ASRH with peers emerge as a pivotal factor, with 62.69% of adolescents engaging in early sexual debut compared to 37.31% among those who did not discuss ASRH with friends. The associated odds ratio is a substantial 76.6189 (95% CI=2.183-2688.805, p=0.017), although again, an inflated ratio is acknowledged due to perfect separation.
Intriguingly, living arrangements prove significant. Adolescents living with only a father exhibit a 0.93% decrease in the likelihood of early sexual debut (OR=0.0093, 95% CI=0.4957-0.00018, p=0.021). Similarly, those living with none of their parents experience a 7.118% decrease (OR=0.07118, 95% CI=0.00519-0.97684, p=0.048).
These findings, woven into the broader tapestry of gender, residence, marital status, age, wealth status, and education level, underscore the urgent imperative for targeted interventions. Addressing the complex interplay of factors influencing early sexual exposure is crucial for designing effective strategies to empower and protect adolescents in Apac district | en_US |
