CONTEXT: Although there is increasing recognition of the scope and significance of sexual coercion experienced by adolescent women in developing countries, evidence on its consequences for reproductive health remains limited. METHODS: A sample of 575 sexually experienced 15-19-year-old women were interviewed in 2001-2002 as part of the ongoing Rakai surveillance project in rural Uganda. Chi-square tests and logistic regressions were used to investigate associations between coerced first intercourse and selected reproductive health behaviors and outcomes. RESULTS: Fourteen percent of young women reported that their first sexual intercourse had been coerced. After the effects of respondents' demographic characteristics were accounted for, young women who reported coerced first intercourse were significantly less likely than those who did not to be currently using modern contraceptives, to have used condoms at last intercourse and to have used them consistently during the preceding six months; they were more likely to report their current or most recent pregnancy as unintended (among ever-pregnant women) and to report one or more genital tract symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Coerced first intercourse is an important social and public health problem that has potentially serious repercussions for young women's reproductive health and well-being. Interventions to improve adolescent women's reproductive health should directly address the issue of sexual coercion.
CONTEXT: Although there is increasing recognition of the scope and significance of sexual coercion experienced by adolescent women in developing countries, evidence on its consequences for reproductive health remains limited. METHODS: A sample of 575 sexually experienced 15-19-year-old women were interviewed in 2001-2002 as part of the ongoing Rakai surveillance project in rural Uganda. Chi-square tests and logistic regressions were used to investigate associations between coerced first intercourse and selected reproductive health behaviors and outcomes. RESULTS: Fourteen percent of young women reported that their first sexual intercourse had been coerced. After the effects of respondents' demographic characteristics were accounted for, young women who reported coerced first intercourse were significantly less likely than those who did not to be currently using modern contraceptives, to have used condoms at last intercourse and to have used them consistently during the preceding six months; they were more likely to report their current or most recent pregnancy as unintended (among ever-pregnant women) and to report one or more genital tract symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Coerced first intercourse is an important social and public health problem that has potentially serious repercussions for young women's reproductive health and well-being. Interventions to improve adolescent women's reproductive health should directly address the issue of sexual coercion.
Authors: Adebola A Adedimeji; Donald R Hoover; Qiuhu Shi; Tracy Gard; Eugene Mutimura; Jean d'Amour Sinayobye; Mardge H Cohen; Kathryn Anastos Journal: AIDS Behav Date: 2015-07
Authors: Jennifer A Wagman; Blake Charvat; Marie E Thoma; Anthony Ndyanabo; Fred Nalugoda; Joseph Ssekasanvu; Grace Kigozi; David Serwadda; Joseph Kagaayi; Maria J Wawer; Ronald H Gray Journal: Int J Public Health Date: 2016-09-13 Impact factor: 3.380
Authors: John S Santelli; Xiaoyu Song; Inge K Holden; Kristin Wunder; Xiaobo Zhong; Ying Wei; Sanyukta Mathur; Tom Lutalo; Fred Nalugoda; Ron H Gray; David M Serwadda Journal: J Adolesc Health Date: 2015-11 Impact factor: 5.012
Authors: Caroline W Kabiru; Donatien Beguy; Joanna Crichton; Alex C Ezeh Journal: Child Adolesc Psychiatry Ment Health Date: 2010-06-22 Impact factor: 3.033