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Delaying sexual debut as a strategy for reducing HIV epidemic in Kenya
Authors: Elijah O. Onsomu, James K. Kimani, Benta A. Abuya, Ahmed A. Arif, DaKysha Moore, Vanessa Duren-Winfield, and George Harwell
Source: African Journal of Reproductive Health, Vol. 17, No. 2
Topic(s): First intercourse
HIV/AIDS
Country: Africa
  Kenya
Published: JUL 2013
Abstract: The study purpose was to determine the association between sexual debut and HIV sero-status, and factors contributing to a positive HIV sero-status. Retrospective cross-sectional data from the Kenya Demographic and Health Survey-2003 were used. Data on women aged 15-49 (n=3,273) and men aged 15-54 (n=2,917) accepting HIV testing were retained from three datasets. Stata version 10.1 was used for analyses, p<0.05. Nine percent of women and 5% of men tested positive for HIV, of whom 46% and 49%, p<0.001 were aged 16-21 respectively. After adjusting for confounding, women and men who had sexual debut aged 16-21 were 2.31 (95% CI: 1.52-3.51), p<0.001 and 1.83 (95% CI: 1.07-3.13), p<0.05 times more likely to test positive for HIV compared to those who never had sex respectively. Early sexual debut continues to be a major risk factor for acquiring HIV infection later in life, suggesting earlier interventions could have a major impact towards fighting the disease.
Web: https://www.ajol.info/index.php/ajrh/article/view/90266