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- Title
Association Between Early Sexual Debut and New HIV Infections Among Adolescents and Young Adults in 11 African Countries.
- Authors
He, Jiawei; Flaxman, Abraham; Imai-Eaton, Jeffrey W.; Aravkin, Aleksandr; Zheng, Peng; Sorensen, Reed; Mittal, Shachi; Kyu, Hmwe H.
- Abstract
We investigated the association between early sexual debut and HIV infection among adolescents and young adults. Analyzing data from nationally representative Population-Based HIV Impact Assessment (PHIA) surveys in 11 African countries, the research employed a multivariate logistic regression model to assess the relationship between the early sexual debut and new HIV infections in the age group of 10–24 years. The results revealed a significant and robust association, indicating that young individuals who experienced early sexual debut were approximately 2.65 times more likely to contract HIV than those who did not, even after accounting for other variables. These findings align with prior research suggesting that early initiation of sexual activity may increase vulnerability to HIV infection due to factors such as biological susceptibility and risky behaviors like low condom use and multiple sexual partners. The implications of these findings for HIV prevention strategies are substantial, suggesting that interventions aimed at delaying sexual debut could be an effective component in reducing HIV risk for this population. Targeted sex education programs that address the risks of early sexual debut may play a pivotal role in these prevention efforts. By employing a comprehensive approach, there is a possibility to advance efforts towards ending AIDS by 2030.
- Subjects
AFRICA; HIV prevention; SEXUAL partners; RISK-taking behavior; RESEARCH funding; LOGISTIC regression analysis; SEX education; HIV infections; POPULATION geography; MULTIVARIATE analysis; SURVEYS; SEXUAL intercourse; CONDOMS
- Publication
AIDS & Behavior, 2024, Vol 28, Issue 7, p2444
- ISSN
1090-7165
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1007/s10461-024-04343-w