Abstract

CAMPO ARIAS, Adalberto et al. Associated Factors with Early Initiation of Sexual Relations in Adolescent Students of a School in Bucaramanga, Colombia.. rev.colomb.psiquiatr. [online]. 2004, vol.33, n.4, pp.367-377. ISSN 0034-7450.

Background: The age of initiation of sexual relations has been gradually declining. Early initiation of coital activities is related to highrisk behaviors for physical and mental health in adolescents. Objective: To establish the age of initiation of sexual relations and some related factors in scholarized adolescents. Method: A transversal study was performed. A self-administered survey was applied to 646 students of a public school in Bucaramanga, Colombia. A total of a 122 students (18.9%) informed having had sexual intercourse. 64 adolescents that declared initiation of sexual relations before age 14 were taken as cases and were compared with a group of 58 students that declared beginning of sexual relations after age 14 and with a group of students aged 14 or more that declared to never have had sexual relations. Results: Multivariate analysis showed that early initiation had a positive relation with younger age and male gender. Conclusions: Adolescents from this school in Bucaramanga begin sexual relations before coming of age. More research and promotion of sexual education in educational institutions is needed.

Keywords : sexual behavior; adolescents; students.

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