Early sexual intercourse and risk factors in Croatian adolescents

Kontakt, 2024

Introduction: The objective of this article is to analyse the determinants of risky behaviour of school children and their impact on early sexual initiation, considering differences between sexes. Methods: The paper analyses the results of the HBSC international study conducted in Slovakia in 2018. A total of 1,293 schoolchildren (81.8% response rate) participated in the study. 15-year-old adolescents were assessed. Differences between boys and girls were also analysed. Results: In the 2018 data collection, the occurrence of underage sexual intercourse was more common among boys (17%) than girls (11.3%). Overall, 94.3% of children reported not having smoked and not having had an early sexual experience. Conversely, 26.1% of the children who admitted having smoked, had had sex. As for alcohol consumption, 19.2% of the pupils who had drunk alcohol reported early sexual initiation but, in a statistically significant indicator, up to 34.1% of adolescents who had had sexual intercourse were in a state of drunkenness at the time. Conclusion: To some extent, experimentation and risky behaviours in adolescence are socially acceptable. However, the timing of adolescents' first sexual intercourse can have an impact on their health and mental well-being. There is a need to recognise and monitor possible determinants that may lead to their risky sexual activities. There is also a clear and pressing need for legislative standards. Paediatric care and nursing play a vital role in the primary prevention of risk activities.

Prilozi / Makedonska akademija na naukite i umetnostite, Oddelenie za biološki i medicinski nauki = Contributions / Macedonian Academy of Sciences and Arts, Section of Biological and Medical Sciences, 2009

The aim of the study was to assess the gender influence on the main determinants of sexual behaviour of senior high-school students in Skopje, R. Macedonia (prevalence and age of onset of sexual activity, duration of the relationship before and the contraceptive method used during the first sexual intercourse, and number of lifetime sexual partners). Methods: After ensuring privacy and confidentiality, a cross-sectional study was carried out in Skopje by enrolling 310 high-school students (49.7% males, 49% females, 1.3% unknown) from 5 randomly selected high-schools, from the 4th grade, using a 32-item paper-and-pencil self administered questionnaire. Results: The prevalence of sexual activity was higher among boys than girls (when reaching grade 4 of the study 62.7% of the boys and 26.7% of the girls are sexually active) (p < 0.01). In addition, a significant gender difference was found in the following: the mean age of onset of sexual activity is 16 years for boys and 17 years for girls; concerning the duration of the relationship before the first sexual intercourse 33% of the boys and 2.5% of the girls had experienced one-night stand relationship (p < 0.01); and concerning the number of partners, having four or more sexual partners was reported by 29.8% of the boys and 5% of the girls (p < 0.01). Of those sexually nonactive, 62.5% of the boys and 15.5% of the girls did not start with sexual activity because they did not have a chance (p < 0.01); 17.9% of the boys and 79.1% of the girls felt unprepared (p < 0.01). Conclusion: The data indicates substantial gender differences in sexual initiation patterns and sexual conduct. Boys and girls are vulnerable at different times in their development and hence need to be reached with different public health interventions for 180 Mladenovic B., Donev D., Spasovski M.

BMC Public Health, 2009

Background: Knowledge about the prevalence of sexual risk behaviour (SRB) in adolescence is needed to prevent unwanted health consequences. Studies on SRB among adolescents in Central Europe are rare and mostly rely on a single indicator for SRB. This study aims to assess the association of behavioural and psychological factors with three types of SRB in adolescents in Central Europe.

Journal of Adolescence, 2007

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the association between socioeconomic status and family structure with risky sexual behaviors in adolescents.

Journal of youth and adolescence, 2010

Although most people in developed countries experience sexual initiation during adolescence, little is known about inter-country variability in the psychosocial correlates of early initiation. Population-based samples of 15-year-olds (n = 6,111, 52% female) who participated in the Health Behaviors in School-Aged Children Study (Finland, Scotland, France and Poland, 1997/1998) or the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (United States, 1996) self-reported sexual intercourse experience and physical (headaches, trouble sleeping) or psychological (unhappiness, loneliness, sadness, moodiness) symptoms. Analyses were conducted stratified by gender. Sexual initiation prevalence and symptoms scores varied significantly across nations. In adjusted models, sexual initiation was not related to symptoms among boys in any nation, but significantly positively related to symptoms among girls in Poland and the US. Results support variability by gender and nation in the relationship betw...

Srpski Arhiv Za Celokupno Lekarstvo, 2009

Introduction Investigation of adolescent sexual behaviour carried out on a large sample is primarily motivated by health and social problems which can occur when young people practice sex without protection and necessary information. There is no data that the national study on adolescent sexual behaviour has been conducted in the Serbian speaking area. Objective Monitoring and follow-up of trends in adolescent sexual behaviour. Methods The investigation sample comprised 1101 adolescents (472 male and 629 female), aged 13-25 years. As an instrument of polling, the questionnaire "Sexual Behaviour" was used specifically designed for the purpose of this investigation. Results Eighty-four percent of males and 65% of females reported having sexual experience. The age of the first sexual experience, total number of partners, number of sexual partners in the last year and the last month were investigated, and the number of loved and sexual partner compared. In addition, the length of foreplay, frequency of sexual activity, masturbation, sexual dreams and sexual daydreams and engagement into alternative sexual activities (oral sex, anal sex, group sex, exchange of partners) were estimated, as well as the reasons for their practicing. Sexual desire and its correlation with personality dimensions, the frequency of sexual disorders (erectile and ejaculation problems, anorgasmia), abortion, rape and identification of the rapist, the use of condoms and other methods of contraception were assessed. Conclusion It could be postulated that biological influence on sexual behaviour is powerful and resistant to the influence of time and place, as well as socio-cultural religious influences. A high rate of premarital sexual activity with a number of sexual partners, a relatively low rate of condom use and the fact that 4% of the female adolescents in this sample had an induced abortion suggest that there are gaps in the education provided to adolescents about sexual and reproductive risks within the Serbian speaking territory. An alarming statistic is that 5% of the female adolescents in this sample reported that they had been raped, or forced to participate in non-consensual sex within an ongoing relationship with a regular partner. There is a need for systemic changes within the field of sexual education and protection from sexually risky behaviour among young adults.

Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences, 2015

Our study tries to establish if the young generation starts sexual activity earlier, under mass media and social pressure, and if the gender is a relevant influence factor in this context. A questionnaire-based survey was developed in order to evaluate the potential relationship between psychological traits and behavior implying risk for people health. The questionnaire was distributed and we received valid responses from a number of 1,364 people (536 male and 828 female). Using SPSS one way ANOVA we found a significant difference determinate by gender regarding the age of sexual activity start.

Journal of Biomedical and Clinical Research, 2014

SummaryThe aim of this study was to identify risk sexual behavior in students aged 12-18 in Veliko Turnovo region. A cross-sectional study was carried-out in 2014. Three hundred and ten students attending seven schools filled in a self-administered questionnaire. The questionnaire included 48 questions, sixteen of which collected information about sexual behaviour, regarding contraception, casual sex with different partners, sexually transmitted diseases (STD), hygiene after sex, etc. The data were processed with SPSS.v.19. Parametric and non-parametric statistical methods were applied. Over 50% of the students reported being sexually active, most of them since they turned 16. Almost half of the respondents had had casual sexual partners and 46 percent had had sex within a week after initiation of a new relationship. Less than one third of the students reported safe sex behaviour. Seven percent of the students had a history of STDs, and one in six did not practice proper hygiene aft...

Scandinavian Journal of Caring Sciences, 2013

Early onset of sexual intercourse is an indicator for hazardous lifestyle and problematic life situation Background: In public health efforts, knowledge about risk-groups is important for creating societal conditions to ensure good health on equal terms. Aim: To investigate differences in lifestyle and perceived health among 15-year-old teenagers with experience of sexual intercourse (self-defined) and same-aged teenagers without experience of sexual intercourse. Methods: A two-cluster questionnaire study among 15-year-old Swedish students (n = 2170) in 2009/10. Chi-squared test was used to identify differences between three groups: teenagers who had not had sexual intercourse; teenagers who had had sexual intercourse at age of 14 or younger; and teenagers who had had intercourse at an age of 15.

HUMANITAS: Indonesian Psychological Journal, 2021

Early sexual intercourse causes negative consequences for adolescent health. Understanding sexual predictors can be beneficial for the prevention program. This study aims to describe predictors of early sexual intercourse among adolescents. The study participants were twenty sexually experienced respondents aged 15-18 years and received assistance from the Indonesian Family Planning Association (PKBI) in Medan. The study used a qualitative approach using semi-structured interviews as methods. The results show that individual, family, peer, school, and media influence early sexual intercourse. Individually, participants have unstable emotions, negative self-concepts, and unclear future orientation. They are also unable to make rational decisions, lack social responsibility, and often violate the rules. Therefore, sexually, the respondents have positive sexual attitudes, sexually active peers, and high sexual self-efficacy. Especially among male participants, the internet was used to ...