N Dickson1, C Paul, P Herbison, P Silva. 1. Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, University of Otago Medical School, Dunedin, New Zealand.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To investigate how age at first sexual intercourse is related to the reported circumstances and to determine how these corresponded to views in early adulthood about its timing. DESIGN: Cross sectional study within a birth cohort using a questionnaire presented by computer. SETTING: Dunedin, New Zealand in 1993-4. SUBJECTS: 477 men and 458 women enrolled in the Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Study, comprising 92% of survivors of the cohort. RESULTS: The median age at first intercourse was 17 years for men and 16 years for women. Only one man (0.2%) but 30 (7%) women reported being forced to have intercourse on the first occasion. For women, there were increasing rates of coercion with younger age at first intercourse. More men than women reported that they and their partner were equally willing (77% (316/413) v 53% (222/419)). Mutual willingness of both partners was greater for those who reported that it was also the first time for their partner. Timing of first intercourse was considered about right by 49% (200/411) of men and 38% (148/388) of women. Many women (54% (211/388) reported that they should have waited longer, and this rose to 70% (90/129) for women reporting intercourse before age 16. CONCLUSIONS: Most women regretted having sexual intercourse before age 16. First intercourse at younger ages is associated with risks that are shared unequally between men and women. This information is important to young people themselves.
OBJECTIVES: To investigate how age at first sexual intercourse is related to the reported circumstances and to determine how these corresponded to views in early adulthood about its timing. DESIGN: Cross sectional study within a birth cohort using a questionnaire presented by computer. SETTING: Dunedin, New Zealand in 1993-4. SUBJECTS: 477 men and 458 women enrolled in the Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Study, comprising 92% of survivors of the cohort. RESULTS: The median age at first intercourse was 17 years for men and 16 years for women. Only one man (0.2%) but 30 (7%) women reported being forced to have intercourse on the first occasion. For women, there were increasing rates of coercion with younger age at first intercourse. More men than women reported that they and their partner were equally willing (77% (316/413) v 53% (222/419)). Mutual willingness of both partners was greater for those who reported that it was also the first time for their partner. Timing of first intercourse was considered about right by 49% (200/411) of men and 38% (148/388) of women. Many women (54% (211/388) reported that they should have waited longer, and this rose to 70% (90/129) for women reporting intercourse before age 16. CONCLUSIONS: Most women regretted having sexual intercourse before age 16. First intercourse at younger ages is associated with risks that are shared unequally between men and women. This information is important to young people themselves.
Entities:
Keywords:
Age Factors; Behavior; Cohort Analysis; Cross Sectional Analysis; Demographic Factors; Developed Countries; Diseases; First Intercourse; Infections; Interpersonal Relations; New Zealand; Oceania; Partner Communication; Population; Population Characteristics; Premarital Sex Behavior; Psychological Factors; Regret; Reproductive Tract Infections; Research Methodology; Research Report; Sex Behavior; Sex Factors; Sexually Transmitted Diseases
Authors: Andrea Grauvogl; Silvia M A A Evers; Katy van den Hoek; Evert van der Veen; Anja Franke; Jacques J D M van Lankveld Journal: BMC Public Health Date: 2009-12-13 Impact factor: 3.295
Authors: Jokin de Irala; Alfonso Osorio; Cristina López del Burgo; Vina A Belen; Filipinas O de Guzman; María del Carmen Calatrava; Antonio N Torralba Journal: BMC Public Health Date: 2009-08-05 Impact factor: 3.295