Correlates of early sexual debut among sexually active youth in Ghana

Using the 2014 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey, this study explores the correlates of early sexual debut among 2,746 (males = 670 and females = 2,076) sexually active youth aged 15 to 24 years in Ghana. The results indicate that males aged 15 to 19 years (odds ratio [OR] = 8.84, p <.001) and who had basic education (OR = 3.17, p <.001) were significantly more likely to initiate sexual debut early. Urban males who had used modern contraceptive (OR = 0.35, p <.001) were significantly less likely to initiate early sexual debut. Meanwhile, females aged 15 to 19 years (OR = 4.26, p <.001); who had used modern contraceptive (OR = 1.99, p <.001); with no formal (OR = 2.90, p <.001) or basic (OR = 3.12, p <.001) education; with partial access to media (OR = 1.58, p <.01); and from the Akans (OR = 1.73, p <.001), Ewes (OR = 1.92, p <.001), and other ethnic groups (OR = 1.63, p <.001) were significantly more likely to initiate early sexual debut. However, employed females living in rural areas (OR = 0.70, p <.01) and those with average (OR = 0.54, p <.01) or rich (OR = 0.51, p <.01) household living in urban areas were significantly less likely to initiate early sexual debut. Interventions and policies targeting those living in both rural and urban areas are therefore needed for adolescent males and females in their early teens before they start engaging in sexual intercourse.