Factors associated with early sexual intercourse debut among female adolescents in the municipality of Parakou (Benin) in 2021 – DOI: 10.37072/JCS.2023.01.02

HOUNKPONOU Fanny Marlyse¹, ATADE Sèdjro Raoul*², KLIPEZO Roger¹, ADJIHA Oscar¹, SALIFOU Badariyatou¹, AHOUINGNAN Aurelle Yeyinou¹, SOUMANOU Assanatou², TOGBENON
David Lionel¹, SALIFOU Kabibou¹
1.Mother and Child Department, Faculty of Medicine (FM), University of Parakou, Parakou, Benin Republic
2.Mother and Child Department, Institute of Nursing and Midwifery (IFSIO) University of Parakou, Parakou, Benin

Abstract
Background: In erstwhile Africa, sexuality was initiated at an early age due to forced marriage. Nowadays, with the regression of forced marriage, is the early entrance into a marital life the real reason of female adolescents’ first sexual intercourse encounter in Parakou?
Objective: This study sought to investigate the factors associated with early sexual intercourse debut among female adolescents in the municipality of Parakou in 2021.
Method: This was a prospective cross-sectional study with descriptive and analytical purposes, carried out from March 1 to August 2, 2021 in the municipality of Parakou. A cluster survey sampling design has been used. Binary logistic regression has been imple- mented to identify predictive factors of the first sexual intercourse’s precocity.
Result: A total of 1,023 female adolescents were surveyed. The prevalence of early sexual intercourse debut was 37.2%. Female adolescents who had early intercourse de- but were married (2.07%), had secondary school level (75%), and lived under the res- ponsibility of a guardian (15.1%). The first sexual intercourse was heterosexual (97.3%) and consensual (64.4%). It occurred during school holidays (45.2%), at a birthday cele- bration or other party (38.4%), with an older man (64.4%), and at the boyfriend’s home (78.1%). Factors associated with early sexual intercourse debut in the municipality of Parakou were: menarche (p=0.0234), living in a guardian household (p=0.0110), expo- sure to porns (p=0.0251) and psychoactive substances consumption (p=0.0217).

Conclusion:The prevalence of early sexual intercourse among female adolescents in the municipality of Parakou is huge. In order to delay the first sexual intercourse in the municipality of Parakou, parents and society have an important role to play regarding the sexual education of female adolescents.
Keywords:
Female adolescents, precocity, sexual intercourse, Parakou (Benin).