Factors Influencing Early Sexual Initiation Among Adolescents In Ghana: Analysis Of The 2014 Ghana Demographic And Health Survey.

ABSTRACT Background: Adolescents are experiencing early maturity and are therefore engaging in early sexual initiation; which exposes them to negative outcomes such as unintended pregnancy, unsafe abortions, STIs, among others. Identifying the drivers of early intercourse among adolescent is key in developing interventions targeting adolescent sexual and reproductive health. Objective: This study examined factors influencing early sexual initiation among adolescents aged 15 to 19 years in Ghana. Methods: The study was a secondary data analysis of the 2014 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey. A total of 2,358 never-married adolescents comprising 1507 females and 851 males, were assessed in this study. Pearson’s Chi-square test of association and logistic regression models were used to examine the determinants of early sexual initiation. Cramer’s V was used to report on strength of associations. Results: Results showed that, 810 adolescents who form about one-third (34%) of the total 2,358 adolescents have ever had sexual intercourse. Out of the sexually experienced, 240 (30%) of the adolescents had experienced early sexual intercourse. Among the males about 9.3% of them had had early sexual initiation compared to about 10.7% among the females. The median for early sexual initiation (below age 15 years) was 12.2 years (interquartile range, 8 to 14 years) for males and 12.8 years (interquartile range, 6 to 14 years) for females. Age of the adolescent, gender, education, household wealth, religion and region of residence were found to be significantly associated with early sexual initiation.  Conclusion: This study concluded that early sexual initiation is high among the sexually experienced adolescents in this study. Therefore, instigating early parent-adolescent sexual communication, and early introduction of age-specific SRH programmes into education curricular will help equip adolescents at the early stages in making informed decision concerning their SRH needs.