Factors Associated With Early Sexual Debut Among Adolescents In Rwanda

Globally,premarital and early sexual activities are one of the most social and public health related problems among adolescents,particularly in developing countries.These issues are associated with unwanted pregnancies,induced abortion and transmitted infection related diseases such as STIs and HIV infections.This study is aimed at analysing risk factors contributing to early sexual debut among adolescents between 15-24 years of age in Rwanda,and assessing the causal effects of smoking behavior on early sex outcomes.This is a cross-sectional study design that used 2015 Rwanda DHS data to analyze 4837 data sample of adolescents between 15-24 years of age across areas of Rwanda.This study used the descriptive analysis and extended Cox model to analyze risk factors contributing to early sex debut outcome while IPW,parametric g-formula,and double robust methods for causal survival analysis were used to estimate causal effects of smoking on age at early sex debut among the adolescents.In the analysis of early sex debut,early sex prevalence was 20.5%and 44.2%in 15-19 years old and 2024 during follow-up,respectively.After Cox model adjustment,the findings showed that male adolescents were 23%(HR=1.23;95%CI:1.10-1.38)higher at risk of early sex compared to female,and those in rural areas had 18%(HR=1.18;95%CI:1.071.29)higher at risk of initiating early sex compared to those in urban areas,and so on.In addition,wealthier families,higher educated,and non-smoking had reduced risk of early sex debut compared to reference categories of adolescents.Based on the findings,we recommend the governments and decision makers to shape and reinforce policies and controlling measures for young generations regarding reduction of health related problems and effects from factors of early sexual activities at all levels of adolescents population.