Factors associated with the onset of sexual activity in adolescents: Analytic cross-sectional

Abstract

Introduction: Different physical, social, affective, and sexual changes take place during adolescence, such as the sexual debut. Objective: To explore the factors associated with the onset of sexual activity in adolescents attending school (12–16 years) in Bucaramanga. Materials and Methods: This analytical cross-sectional study included 440 adolescents from a public school. An instrument developed by Latin American Center for Perinatology - History of Adolescents was applied, and descriptive and bivariate analyses were conducted using a binomial regression model adjusted by age and sex, with sexual activity onset as the outcome and possible associated factors as exposures. Results: The prevalence of the onset of sexual activity was 22.27% (95% CI: 18.56–26.46). Factors associated with greater prevalence of sexual activity onset were having a criminal record and partner PR=3.24, (95%CI: 2.60–4.05) and PR=2.00, (95%CI: 1.42–2.82), respectively. Male gender PR=1.19, (95% CI: 0.84–1.67), using tobacco PR=1.23 (95% CI: 0.73–2.06), alcohol consumption PR=1.23, (95% CI: 0.73–2.06), and other psychoactive substance use PR=1.78, (95% CI: 0.99–3.19) were risk factors; meanwhile, socializing with friends was a protective factor PR=0.27, (95% CI: 0.20–0.36). Discussion: Follow-up by parents and school support decrease the risk of adolescent sexual activity onset. Furthermore, interventions in the family and school settings are important. Conclusion: There are conditions that could promote the beginning of sexual activity in adolescence such as being male, having a partner, having a criminal record, smoking, and consuming alcohol or other substances could promote adolescent sexual activity onset, while socializing with friends was found to be a protective factor.

Keywords

• adolescents
• risk factors
• sexual activity