Differences that Make a Difference: Residential Spaces and Timing of Sexual Debut in Nigeria

• In Event: 534 - Section on Children and Youth Roundtables (one-hour)
  In Refereed Roundtable: Table 06. Sexual Behaviors, Risk, and Debut

Abstract

We explored the timing of sexual initiation among never-married young males and females (15 and 24 years) residing in four residential spaces in Nigeria: a) Rural North b) Rural South c) Urban North and d) Urban South. Using event history analysis, we analyzed data from the 2013 Nigerian Demographic and Health Survey. Our findings suggest that young males (TR: 1.04, P<0.00) and females (TR: 1.06, P<0.00) who lived in the urban north experienced their sexual debut later than their counterparts in the rural north. However, young males (TR: 0.94, P<0.00) and females (TR: 0.94, P<0.00) who lived in the rural south had their first sex earlier than those in the rural north. Young males (TR: 0.98, P<0.05) who lived in the urban south also experience their first sex earlier relative to those in the rural north. This suggests that there is a regional penalty in regards to the timing of sexual initiation for young males in southern Nigeria. Surprisingly, young male and female respondents who were educated and those who had accurate knowledge on HIV/AIDS transmission and prevention experienced their first sex early. These findings are robust even after controlling for wealth, religion, HIV-myths, and media exposure. Clearly, timing of sexual debut among never-married young people varies considerably across different spatial contexts. Our findings suggest that interventions aimed at discouraging early sexual initiation among never-married young people in Nigeria need to go beyond merely providing health information and services to addressing the livelihood needs of youths, especially those in rural context.

Authors

• Jonathan Anim Amoyaw, University of Western Ontario

• Godfred Odei Boateng, Western University

• Yujiro Sano, University of Western Ontario