Early age at first sex: associations with sexual health and sociodemographic factors among a sample of young music festival attendees in Melbourne
Alyce M. Vella A C , Paul A. Agius A , Anna L. Bowring A , Margaret E. Hellard A B and Megan S. C. Lim A B
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Centre for Population Health, Burnet Institute, 85 Commercial Road, Melbourne, Vic. 3004, Australia.
B Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, 99 Commercial Road, Melbourne, Vic. 3004, Australia.
C Corresponding author. Email: alyce@burnet.edu.au
Sexual Health 11(4) 359-365 https://doi.org/10.1071/SH14058
Submitted: 20 March 2014 Accepted: 1 August 2014 Published: 28 August 2014
Abstract
Background: Age at first sex (AFS) is associated with adverse outcomes. We explore associated factors and correlates of ‘early’ AFS (<16 years). Methods: In 2009–11, participants (16–29 years) were recruited. Multivariate Cox regression explored correlates of AFS. Logistic regression analysis explored associations between early AFS and risk behaviours. Results: Of 3563 participants, 79% were sexually active. Median AFS was 17 years. Compared with those aged 25–29 years, younger participants reported younger AFS [16–17 years: adjusted hazard ratio (AHR) = 1.87, P < 0.01; 18–19 years: AHR = 1.47, P < 0.01, 20–24 years: AHR = 1.19, P < 0.01]. Of those sexually active, 29% reported early AFS. Early AFS was associated with being male [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 1.25, P < 0.05], being younger (16–17 years: AOR = 11.10, P < 0.01; 18–19 years: AOR = 3.60, P < 0.01; 20–24 years: AOR = 1.83, P < 0.01; compared with 25–29 years), having no education after high school (AOR = 1.52, P < 0.01), living alone (AOR = 1.84, P < 0.01) or with a partner (AOR = 1.57, P = 0.01), having more than five lifetime sex partners (AOR = 3.22, P = 0.01), inconsistent condom use in the past 12 months (AOR = 1.43, P < 0.01), ever using illicit drugs (AOR = 1.69, P < 0.01) and ever injecting drugs (AOR = 3.45, P < 0.01). Conclusions: The results highlight the importance of comprehensive sex education.
Additional keywords: Australia, behaviour, condom use, risk, sexual debut.
References
[1] Wellings K, Field B. Sexual behaviour in young people. Baillieres Clin Obstet Gynaecol 1996; 10 139–60.| 1:STN:280:DyaK28zks1GisQ%3D%3D&md5=e7d92d2d017f380d5e5f1c98ee2ce7e5CAS | 8736727PubMed |
[2] Watson LF, Taft AJ, Lee C. Associations of self-reported violence with age at menarche, first intercourse, and first birth among a national population sample of young Australian women. Women’s Health Issues 2007; 17 281–9.
| Associations of self-reported violence with age at menarche, first intercourse, and first birth among a national population sample of young Australian women.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 17707123PubMed |
[3] Waldron M, Heath AC, Turkheimer E, Emery R, Bucholz KK, Madden PAF, et al Age at first sexual intercourse and teenage pregnancy in Australian female twins. Twin Res Hum Genet 2007; 10 440–9.
| Age at first sexual intercourse and teenage pregnancy in Australian female twins.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 17564502PubMed |
[4] Wellings K, Nanchahal K, Macdowall W, McManus S, Erens B, Mercer CH, et al Sexual behaviour in Britain: early heterosexual experience. Lancet 2001; 358 1843–50.
| Sexual behaviour in Britain: early heterosexual experience.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DC%2BD3MjgtVCmtQ%3D%3D&md5=c082e639fe286adffd2f92aa666df59eCAS | 11741623PubMed |
[5] Kim J, Lee J-E. Early sexual debut and condom nonuse among adolescents in South Korea. Sex Health 2012; 9 459–65.
| Early sexual debut and condom nonuse among adolescents in South Korea.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 23380196PubMed |
[6] Rissel CE, Richters J, Grulich AE, de Visser RO, Smith AMA. Sex in Australia: first experiences of vaginal intercourse and oral sex among a representative sample of adults. Aust N Z J Public Health 2003; 27 131–7.
| Sex in Australia: first experiences of vaginal intercourse and oral sex among a representative sample of adults.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 14696703PubMed |
[7] Olesen TB, Jensen KE, Nygård M, Tryggvadottir L, Sparén P, Hansen BT, et al Young age at first intercourse and risk-taking behaviours – a study of nearly 65 000 women in four Nordic countries. Eur J Public Health 2012; 22 220–4.
| Young age at first intercourse and risk-taking behaviours – a study of nearly 65 000 women in four Nordic countries.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 21596800PubMed |
[8] Magnusson BM, Masho SW, Lapane KL. Early age at first intercourse and subsequent gaps in contraceptive use. J Womens Health (Larchmt) 2012; 21 73–9.
| Early age at first intercourse and subsequent gaps in contraceptive use.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
[9] Epstein M, Bailey JA, Manhart LE, Hill KG, Hawkins JD, Haggerty KP, et al Understanding the link between early sexual initiation and later sexually transmitted infection: test and replication in two longitudinal studies. J Adolesc Health 2014; 54 435–41.
| Understanding the link between early sexual initiation and later sexually transmitted infection: test and replication in two longitudinal studies.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 24280303PubMed |
[10] Sandfort TGM, Orr M, Hirsch JS, Santelli J. Long-term health correlates of timing of sexual debut: results from a national US study. Am J Public Health 2008; 98 155–61.
| Long-term health correlates of timing of sexual debut: results from a national US study.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
[11] Boyle FM, Dunne MP, Purdie DM, Najman JM, Cook MD. Early patterns of sexual activity: age cohort differences in Australia. Int J STD AIDS 2003; 14 745–52.
| Early patterns of sexual activity: age cohort differences in Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 14624737PubMed |
[12] Kaestle CE, Halpern CT, Miller WC, Ford CA. Young age at first sexual intercourse and sexually transmitted infections in adolescents and young adults. Am J Epidemiol 2005; 161 774–80.
| Young age at first sexual intercourse and sexually transmitted infections in adolescents and young adults.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 15800270PubMed |
[13] Chen MY, Donovan B. Genital Chlamydia trachomatis infection in Australia: epidemiology and clinical implications. Sex Health 2004; 1 189–96.
| Genital Chlamydia trachomatis infection in Australia: epidemiology and clinical implications.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 16335749PubMed |
[14] Lim MS, Goller JL, Guy R, Gold J, Stoove M, Hocking JS, et al Correlates of Chlamydia trachomatis infection in a primary care sentinel surveillance network. Sex Health 2012; 9 247–53.
| Correlates of Chlamydia trachomatis infection in a primary care sentinel surveillance network.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 22697142PubMed |
[15] Hocking JS, Willis J, Tabrizi S, Fairley CK, Garland SM, Hellard M. A chlamydia prevalence survey of young women living in Melbourne, Victoria. Sex Health 2006; 3 235–40.
| A chlamydia prevalence survey of young women living in Melbourne, Victoria.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 17112433PubMed |
[16] Smith AM, Pitts MK, Shelley JM, Richters J, Ferris J. The Australian longitudinal study of health and relationships. BMC Public Health 2007; 7 139
| The Australian longitudinal study of health and relationships.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 17608953PubMed |
[17] Lim MS, Bowring AL, Gold J, Aitken CK, Hellard ME. Trends in sexual behavior, testing, and knowledge in young people; 2006–2011. Sex Transm Dis 2012; 39 831–4.
| Trends in sexual behavior, testing, and knowledge in young people; 2006–2011.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 23064530PubMed |
[18] Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). Australian standard geographical classification (ASGC) remoteness areas (catalogue no. 1216.0). Canberra: ABS; 2006.
[19] Zellner A. An efficient method of estimating seemingly unrelated regressions and tests for aggregation bias. J Am Stat Assoc 1962; 57 348–68.
[20] Family Planning Victoria. Sexual health info. Box Hill: Family Planning Victoria; 2014 Available online at: http://www.fpv.org.au/sexual-health-info/sex-and-the-law/consent/ [verified 11 August 2014].
[21] O’Donnell L, Wilson‐Simmons R, Dash K, Jeanbaptiste V, Myint‐U A, Moss J, et al Saving sex for later: developing a parent–child communication intervention to delay sexual initiation among young adolescents. Sex Educ 2007; 7 107–25.
| Saving sex for later: developing a parent–child communication intervention to delay sexual initiation among young adolescents.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
[22] Paul C, Fitzjohn J, Herbison P, Dickson N. The determinants of sexual intercourse before age 16. J Adolesc Health 2000; 27 136–47.
| The determinants of sexual intercourse before age 16.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DC%2BD3cvjt1yqug%3D%3D&md5=202e7d41ade7b10e90c28c6549f5432dCAS | 10899475PubMed |
[23] Bellis MA, Downing J, Ashton JR. Adults at 12? Trends in puberty and their public health consequences. J Epidemiol Community Health 2006; 60 910–1.
| Adults at 12? Trends in puberty and their public health consequences.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DC%2BD28nhvFOjtg%3D%3D&md5=9f1671ad6512ac45179f94a659e48e88CAS | 17053275PubMed |
[24] Borawski EA, Ievers-Landis CE, Lovegreen LD, Trapl ES. Parental monitoring, negotiated unsupervised time, and parental trust: the role of perceived parenting practices in adolescent health risk behaviors. J Adolesc Health 2003; 33 60–70.
| Parental monitoring, negotiated unsupervised time, and parental trust: the role of perceived parenting practices in adolescent health risk behaviors.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 12890596PubMed |
[25] Newcomer SF, Udry JR. Parent–child communication and adolescent sexual behavior. Fam Plann Perspect 1985; 17 169–74.
| Parent–child communication and adolescent sexual behavior.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DyaL2s7gsFyntw%3D%3D&md5=0e24776247e3893fd3955ebe969e023aCAS | 3842808PubMed |
[26] O’Donnell L, Stueve A, Agronick G, Wilson-Simmons R, Duran R, Jeanbaptiste V. Saving sex for later: an evaluation of a parent education intervention. Perspect Sex Reprod Health 2005; 37 166–73.
| Saving sex for later: an evaluation of a parent education intervention.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 16380361PubMed |
[27] Lim MSC, Vella AM, Sacks-Davis R, Hellard M. Young people’s comfort receiving sexual health information via social media and other sources. Int J STD AIDS 2014;
| Young people’s comfort receiving sexual health information via social media and other sources.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
[28] Holland J, Ramazanoglu C, Sharpe S, Thomson R. Deconstructing virginity – young people’s accounts of first sex. Sex Relationship Ther 2000; 15 221–32.
| Deconstructing virginity – young people’s accounts of first sex.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
[29] Bleakley A, Hennessy M, Fishbein M. A model of adolescents’ seeking of sexual content in their media choices. J Sex Res 2011; 48 309–15.
| A model of adolescents’ seeking of sexual content in their media choices.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 20672214PubMed |
[30] Brown JD. Mass media influences on sexuality. J Sex Res 2002; 39 42–5.
| Mass media influences on sexuality.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 12476255PubMed |
[31] Brown JD, L’Engle KL. X-rated: sexual attitudes and behaviors associated with US early adolescents’ exposure to sexually explicit media. Communic Res 2009; 36 129–51.
| X-rated: sexual attitudes and behaviors associated with US early adolescents’ exposure to sexually explicit media.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
[32] Lim MSC, Hellard ME, Aitken CK, Hocking JS. Sexual-risk behaviour, self-perceived risk and knowledge of sexually transmissible infections among young Australians attending a music festival. Sex Health 2007; 4 51–6.
| Sexual-risk behaviour, self-perceived risk and knowledge of sexually transmissible infections among young Australians attending a music festival.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
[33] Lim MSC, Hellard ME, Hocking JS, Spelman TD, Aitken CK. Surveillance of drug use among young people attending a music festival in Australia, 2005–2008. Drug Alcohol Rev 2010; 29 150–6.
| Surveillance of drug use among young people attending a music festival in Australia, 2005–2008.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
