Reported heterosexual intercourse and related behaviours among primary school pupils in Kinondoni district, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted among 2820 pupils in 22 randomly selected primary schools in Kinondoni district, Tanzania. The objective was to identify the proportion of pupils who reported ever having had sexual intercourse, as well as sociodemographic and psychosocial factors and other sexual-related behaviours associated with heterosexual intercourse among pupils. About 13% (376) of participating pupils reported having had heterosexual intercourse. The proportion of pupils who reported doing so varied significantly by age, sex, school grade and parents' education. Regarding psychosocial factors, pupils who agreed that having sexual intercourse implies love for a partner and that sexual intercourse creates peer approval were significantly more likely to report having had heterosexual intercourse. Pupils who reported having a girl/boy friend, kissed a boy/girl, engaged in light petting, engaged in heavy petting or practised oral sex and anal sex were more likely to report ever having heterosexual intercourse. The implications for programme and intervention development are discussed.