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Socioeconomic inequality in early sexual initiation among female youths in sub-Saharan African countries: a decomposition analysis
Authors: Elsa Awoke Fentie, Atitegeb Abera Kidie, Samrawit Mihret Fetene & Ever Siyoum Shewarega
Source: BMC Public Health, 23
Topic(s): Data models
Inequality
Sexual behavior
Country: Africa
  Multiple African Countries
  Burundi
  Comoros
  Ethiopia
  Kenya
  Malawi
  Mozambique
  Rwanda
  Tanzania
  Uganda
  Zambia
  Zimbabwe
  Angola
  Cameroon
  Chad
  Congo Democratic Republic
  Congo
  Gabon
  Benin
  Cote D'Ivoire
  Burkina Faso
  Ghana
  Guinea
  Gambia
  Liberia
  Mali
  Niger
  Nigeria
  Senegal
  Sierra Leone
  Togo
  Lesotho
  Namibia
  South Africa
Published: JUL 2023
Abstract: Introduction: Youths are defined as individuals within the age group 15–24 years. It is the transitional stage from childhood to adulthood with biological, social, and psychological change, so it is a time of risk and opportunity for their future life. Early sexual initiation exposes young people to various social, economic, sexual, and reproductive health issues, such as unwanted adolescent pregnancies, sexually transmitted infections, unsafe abortion, cervical cancer, and early marriages. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the presence of socioeconomic inequality in early sexual initiation and contributing factors in sub-Saharan African countries. Methods: A total of 118,932 weighted female youths from SSA countries’ DHS data were included in the study. Socioeconomic inequality of Early sexual initiation was evaluated using the Erreygers znormalized concentration index and associated concentration curve. Decomposition analysis was performed to determine those factors causing socioeconomic-related inequality. Results: The weighted Erreygers normalized concentration index of wealth-related inequality of early sexual initiation was -?0.157 with a Standard error?=?0.0046 (P value?
Web: https://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12889-023-16124-6