Kimberly H Nguyen1, Mabel Padilla2, Andrés Villaveces2, Pragna Patel3, Victor Atuchukwu4, Dennis Onotu4, Rose Apondi5, George Aluzimbi5, Peter Chipimo6, Nzali Kancheya6, Howard Kress2. 1. Division of Violence Prevention, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA. Electronic address: uxp1@cdc.gov. 2. Division of Violence Prevention, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA. 3. Division of Global HIV and TB, Center for Global Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA. 4. Nigeria Country Office, Center for Global Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Abuja, Nigeria. 5. Uganda Country Office, Center for Global Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Kampala, Uganda. 6. Zambia Country Office, Center for Global Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Lukasa, Zambia.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Coerced and forced sexual initiation (FSI) can have detrimental effects on children and youth. Understanding health outcomes that are associated with experiences of FSI is important for developing appropriate strategies for prevention and treatment of FSI and its consequences. METHODS: The Violence Against Children Surveys were conducted in Nigeria, Uganda, and Zambia in 2014 and 2015. We examined the prevalence of FSI and its consequences (sexual high-risk behaviors, violence experiences, mental health outcomes, and sexually transmitted infections (STI)) associated with FSI among youth aged 13-24 years in three countries in sub-Saharan Africa. RESULTS: Over one in ten youth aged 13-24 years who had ever had sex experienced FSI in Nigeria, Uganda, and Zambia. In multivariable logistic regression, FSI was significantly associated with infrequent condom use (OR = 1.4, 95%CI = 1.1-2.1), recent experiences of sexual violence (OR = 1.6, 95%CI: 1.1-2.3), physical violence (OR = 2.2, 95%CI: 1.6-3.0), and emotional violence (OR = 2.0, 95%CI: 1.3-2.9), moderate/serious mental distress (OR = 1.5, 95%CI: 1.1-2.0), hurting oneself (OR = 2.0, 95%CI: 1.3-3.1), and thoughts of suicide (OR = 1.5, 95%CI: 1.1-2.3), after controlling for demographic characteristics. FSI was not statistically associated with engaging in transactional sex, having multiple sex partners, or having a STI. CONCLUSION: FSI is associated with infrequent condom use, recent experiences of violence and mental health outcomes among youth in sub-Saharan Africa, which may increase the risk for HIV and other consequences. Developing strategies for prevention is important for reducing the prevalence of FSI and its effects on children and youth. Published by Elsevier Ltd.
INTRODUCTION: Coerced and forced sexual initiation (FSI) can have detrimental effects on children and youth. Understanding health outcomes that are associated with experiences of FSI is important for developing appropriate strategies for prevention and treatment of FSI and its consequences. METHODS: The Violence Against Children Surveys were conducted in Nigeria, Uganda, and Zambia in 2014 and 2015. We examined the prevalence of FSI and its consequences (sexual high-risk behaviors, violence experiences, mental health outcomes, and sexually transmitted infections (STI)) associated with FSI among youth aged 13-24 years in three countries in sub-Saharan Africa. RESULTS: Over one in ten youth aged 13-24 years who had ever had sex experienced FSI in Nigeria, Uganda, and Zambia. In multivariable logistic regression, FSI was significantly associated with infrequent condom use (OR = 1.4, 95%CI = 1.1-2.1), recent experiences of sexual violence (OR = 1.6, 95%CI: 1.1-2.3), physical violence (OR = 2.2, 95%CI: 1.6-3.0), and emotional violence (OR = 2.0, 95%CI: 1.3-2.9), moderate/serious mental distress (OR = 1.5, 95%CI: 1.1-2.0), hurting oneself (OR = 2.0, 95%CI: 1.3-3.1), and thoughts of suicide (OR = 1.5, 95%CI: 1.1-2.3), after controlling for demographic characteristics. FSI was not statistically associated with engaging in transactional sex, having multiple sex partners, or having a STI. CONCLUSION: FSI is associated with infrequent condom use, recent experiences of violence and mental health outcomes among youth in sub-Saharan Africa, which may increase the risk for HIV and other consequences. Developing strategies for prevention is important for reducing the prevalence of FSI and its effects on children and youth. Published by Elsevier Ltd.
Entities:
Keywords:
Childhood violence; Coerced and forced sex; Forced sexual initiation; Risk-taking behaviors; Sexual violence
Authors: Kerryann Walsh; Elizabeth Eggins; Lorelei Hine; Ben Mathews; Maureen C Kenny; Sarah Howard; Natasha Ayling; Elizabeth Dallaston; Elizabeth Pink; Dimitrios Vagenas Journal: Cochrane Database Syst Rev Date: 2022-07-05
Authors: Katherine M Anderson; Kiyomi Tsuyuki; Alexandra Fernandez DeSoto; Jamila K Stockman Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2022-04-15 Impact factor: 4.614