Time to first sexual experience and its predictors among young women (15–24 years) in Zambia: Evidence from 2024 Demographic and Health Survey

Résumé

Early sexual experience among young women increases the risk of unintended pregnancies, sexually transmitted infections, and adverse psychosocial and health outcomes. Examining the timing to first sexual experience is very vital in informing sexual and reproductive health policies and interventions aimed at reducing the health risks among young women. However, there is limited recent evidence in Zambia, particularly studies utilizing nationally representative data such as the 2024 Zambia Demographic and Health Survey. Therefore, the study aimed to investigate the determinants of time to first sexual experience among young women in Zambia. Secondary data from the Zambia Demographic and Health Survey (ZDHS 2024) was used in the study. A weighted sample of 5,833 young women was considered in the study. Kaplan-Meier curve, log-rank test, and Cox proportional hazards regression were used to establish the median age at first sexual experience and identify determinants of time to first sexual experience, with statistical significance set at p < 0.05. The study found that 70% (95% CI: 0.71 - 0.73) of the young women had their first sexual experience before the age of 25. The overal median age to first sexual experience was 17 years. Multivariable Cox regression results showed that lower hazards of earlier sexual experience were associated with being aged 20-24 years (AHR = 0.75, 95% CI: 0.70-0.80), coming from a rich household (AHR = 0.75, 95% CI: 0.67-0.85), and being literate (AHR = 0.87, 95% CI: 0.80-0.94). The findings show that age, household wealth, and literacy are significant factors associated with the timing of first sexual experience among young women in Zambia. Interventions to delay sexual initiation should focus on improving girls' education and addressing socioeconomic inequalities.

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