Abstract:
PURPOSE: To determine the incidence and predictors of adolescent's early sexual
debut after three decades of HIV interventions in Tanzania.
METHODS: In a cross-section study of adolescents aged 16-19 residing in Morogoro
Municipality, information on socio-demographic, parental-and-peer communication,
and sexual behaviors were collected. Cox-regression analysis was used to examine
predictors of time to sexual debut.
RESULTS: A total of 316 adolescents with mean age of 17.5±0.9 were recruited.
Half (48.7%) of adolescent were sexually active with mean age at sexual debut of
14.6±2.3. Of these, 57.8% had sex before their 15(th) birthday with incidence of
early sexual debut of 17.4/1000 person-years at risk. Adolescent family
characteristics, peer pressure, alcohol use, parental and peer communication were
key predictors of early sexual debut.
CONCLUSION: Parental and peer communication strategies works calling for efforts
to increase its scope to reach all adolescents alongside promoting family
stability and reducing adolescent alcohol consumption.