Free Standard AU & NZ Shipping For All Book Orders Over $80!
Register      Login
Sexual Health Sexual Health Society
Publishing on sexual health from the widest perspective
Shopping Cart: ( empty )
You are here: Home > Journals > SH > SH06004
RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 3(3)

Experience of sexual intercourse and reported risk behaviour among an ethnically diverse sample of young people

Lester Coleman A B and Adrienne Testa A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Trust for the Study of Adolescence (TSA), 23 New Road, Brighton BN1 1WZ, United Kingdom.

B Corresponding author. Email: lcoleman@tsa.uk.com

Sexual Health 3(3) 169-177 https://doi.org/10.1071/SH06004
Submitted: 17 January 2006  Accepted: 5 April 2006   Published: 29 August 2006

Abstract

Background: Certain Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) groups have been identified as bearing a disproportionate burden of sexual ill health in the UK. There still exists a significant gap in the evidence-base concerning the sexual behaviours of BME youth. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional survey of 16 secondary schools in London, where the proportion of BME students exceeded two-thirds of the intake. The aim was to identify the factors associated with sexual intercourse and sexual risk behaviours. Results: 2801 students aged 15 to 18 completed questionnaires. Compared with White British males, Black males were significantly more likely to report sexual intercourse (OR 3.04, 95% CI 1.92–4.81). Compared with White British females, Asian females were significantly less likely to report sexual intercourse (OR 0.43, 95% CI 0.27–0.69). Both sexes reporting school as their main source of information, as opposed to their family, had a lower likelihood of intercourse (males OR 0.33, 95% CI 0.21–0.53, females OR 0.39, 95% CI 0.25–0.62). Compared with White British males, contraceptive use at first ever intercourse was significantly less likely among Black males (OR 0.35, 95% CI 0.16–0.98) and males of Mixed ethnicity (OR 0.24, 95% CI 0.06–0.92). Among females, higher sexual health knowledge was associated with contraceptive use (OR 4.69, 95% CI 1.76–12.49). Males reporting higher sexual health knowledge were more likely to be ‘sexually competent’ at first ever intercourse (OR 2.28, 95% CI 1.10–4.69). Conclusions: Given the importance of sexual health knowledge, ensuring this is improved among all ethnic groups, especially the Black and Mixed male groups, is a key message to arise from this study. Delivering this information in a ‘culturally competent’ manner is an important goal.


Acknowledgements

We are grateful for Naz Project London in collaborating with this research, the supportive role of the questionnaire fieldworkers, the Big Lottery for their funding, and the student participants.


References


[1] Fenton KA,  Hughes G. Sexual behaviour in Britain: why sexually transmitted infections are common. Clin Med (Northfield Il) 2003; 3 199–202.


[2] Dennison C . Teenage pregnancy: an overview of the research evidence. London: Health Development Agency; 2004.

[3] Tripp J,  Viner R. Sexual health, contraception and teenage pregnancy. BMJ 2005; 330 590–3.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | PubMed |

[4] UNICEF. A league table of teenage births in rich nations. Innocenti Report Card No.3. Florence: UNICEF Innocenti Research Centre; 2001.

[5] Health Protection Agency (HPA). Diagnoses of selected STIs, by region, age and sex seen at GUM clinics. London: HPA; 2005.

[6] Biehal N , Clayden J , Stein M , Wade J . Prepared for living? A survey of young people leaving the care of three local authorities. London: National Children’s Bureau; 1992.

[7] Hobcraft J . Intergenerational and life-course transmission of social exclusion: influences of childhood poverty, family disruption and contact with the police. London: CASE paper 15, London School of Economics; 1998.

[8] Kiernan K . Transition to parenthood: young mothers, young fathers – associated factors and later life experiences. London: LSE Discussion Paper WSP/113, London School of Economics; 1995.

[9] Ermisch J , Pevalin D . Does a ‘teen birth’ have longer-term impacts on the mother? Colchester: ISER working paper 2003–28, Institute for Social and Economic Research, University of Essex; 2003.

[10] Wellings K,  Nanchahal K,  Macdowall W,  McManus S,  Erens B,  Mercer CH, et al. Sexual behaviour in Britain: early heterosexual experience. The Lancet 2001; 358 1843–50.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

[11] Botting B,  Rosato M,  Wood R. Teenage mothers and the health of their children. Popul Trends 1998; 93 19–28.
| PubMed |

[12] Public Health Laboratory Service (PHLS) Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre. Sexual health in Britain: recent changes in high-risk sexual behaviours and the epidemiology of sexually transmitted infections including HIV. London, PHLS; 2002.

[13] Berthould R. Teenage births to ethnic minority women. Popul Trends 2001; 14 12–7.


[14] Fenton KA,  Mercer CH,  McManus S,  Erens B,  Wellings K,  Macdowall W, et al. Ethnic variations in sexual behaviour in Great Britain and risk of sexually transmitted infections: a probability survey. The Lancet 2005; 365 1246–55.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

[15] Sinha S , Curtis K , Jayakody A , Viner R , Roberts H . Starting sex in East London: protective and risk factors for starting to have sex amongst Black and Minority Ethnic young people in East London. London: Paper 1 prepared for the Teenage Pregnancy Unit (DfES); 2005.

[16] Dougan S,  Payne LJC,  Brown AE,  Fenton KA,  Logan L,  Evans BG, et al. Black Caribbean adults with HIV in England, Wales and Northern Ireland: an emerging epidemic? Sex Transm Infect 2004; 80 18–23.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | PubMed |

[17] Hughes G,  Bradby AR,  Catchpole MA,  Fenton KA,  Rogers PA,  Kinghorn G, et al. Characteristics of those who repeatedly acquire sexually transmitted infections: a retrospective cohort study of attendees at three urban sexually transmitted disease clinics in England. Sex Transm Dis 2001; 28 379–86.
| PubMed |

[18] Low N,  Sterne JA,  Barlow D. Inequalities in rates of gonorrhoea and chlamydia between black ethnic groups in East London: cross-sectional study. Sex Transm Infect 2001; 77 15–20.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | PubMed |

[19] Shahmanesh M,  Gayed S,  Ascroft M. Geomapping of chlamydia and gonnorrhoea in Birmingham. Sex Transm Infect 2000; 76 268–72.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | PubMed |

[20] Bradby H,  Williams R. Behaviours and expectations in relation to sexual intercourse among 18–20 year old Asians and non-Asians. Sex Transm Infect 1999; 75 162–7.
| PubMed |

[21] Santelli JS,  Lowry R,  Brener ND,  Robin L. The association of sexual behaviours with socioeconomic status, family structure, and race/ethnicity among US adolescents. Am J Public Health 2000; 90 1582–8.
| PubMed |

[22] Chinouya M , Reynolds R . HIV prevention and African communities living in England: a review of the literature. London: National AIDS Trust; 2001.

[23] Low N . Briefing paper on sexual health of young people from black and ethnic minority ethnic groups. London: Teenage Pregnancy Unit; 2002.

[24] Wight D,  Henderson M,  Raab G,  Abraham C,  Buston K,  Scott S, et al. Extent of regretted sexual intercourse among young teenagers in Scotland: a cross-sectional survey. BMJ 2000; 320 1243–4.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | PubMed |

[25] Henderson M,  Wight D,  Raab G,  Abraham C,  Buston K,  Hart G, et al. Heterosexual risk behaviour among young teenagers in Scotland. J Adolesc 2002; 25 483–94.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | PubMed |

[26] Elam G , Fenton K , Johnson A , Nazroo J , Ritchie J . Exploring ethnicity and sexual health. London: Social and Community Planning Research; 1999.

[27] Patel G , Orhan A , Maharaj K . Hard to reach, hard to teach: research into the sexual health needs of South Asian men who have sex with men. London: Naz Project London; 1999.

[28] Sadler K , Fenton KF , Elam G , McGarrigle C , Mercey D , Davidson O , et al Mayisha II main study report: assessing the feasibility and acceptability of community based prevalence surveys of HIV among Black Africans in England. London: Health Protection Agency; 2005.

[29] Office for National Statistics. Ethnicity. Newport, UK: Ethnicity Office for National Statistics; 2001. Available online at: www.statistics.gov.uk/CCI/nugget.asp?ID=764&Pos=1&ColRank=1&Rank=176 [verified May 2006].

[30] Testa A,  Coleman L. Accessing research participants in schools: a case study of a UK adolescent sexual health survey. Health Educ Res ;
| PubMed |

[31] Brook News. Brook warns against overlooking men’s sexual health. London: Brook; 31st July 2005. Available online at: www.brook.org.uk/content/M7_2005_31_7.asp [verified May 2006].

[32] Testa A , Coleman L . Sexual health knowledge, attitudes and behaviours among Black and Minority Ethnic youth in London. Brighton: Trust for the Study of Adolescence; 2006.

[33] Coleman L,  Testa A. Preferences towards sex education and information from an ethnically diverse sample of young people. Sex Educ ;




A The latest census data reports that Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) groups account for 8% of the UK population.

B Schools where students were aged 11 to 18.

C The London boroughs are smaller geographical areas than the Strategic Health Authorities.

D At the 95% level or P ≤ 0.05.

E There are 32 482 Super Output Areas (SOAs) across England. These SOAs, based on an average population of approximately 1500, are ranked according to an index of multiple deprivation, with 1 being the most deprived, and 32 482 the least deprived. The index of multiple deprivation is a summary measure, incorporating seven domains relating to: income deprivation, employment deprivation, health deprivation and disability, education, skills and training deprivation, barriers to housing and services, living environment deprivation, and crime.

F The School Years system in the UK is equivalent to the Grade system in other countries such as the North America and Australia.