Motive of sexual activity initiation among adolescents from a gender perspective: CEMERA 2005 – 2006

Abstract

Gender image is the basis through which adolescents, both male and female, start the process leading to the acquisition of their identity as women or men, since it leads them to acquire expected and pre-established behavior patterns that will determine what they “must be”, thus providing socialization tools.

Therefore, it is in such context that the appraisal of the characteristics of sexual activity initiation may become a significant contribution to the design of strategies promoting the attainmentof a full development both in males and females. The present study aims at describing and comparing according to gender, the characteristics related to coital sexual activity initiation among adolescents admitted to Cemera during 2005 and 2006. This cross-sectional study used secondary data. The study population consisted of heterosexual adolescents aged between 10 and 19, who had initiated their sexual activity and attended consultation for family planning. The variables evidencing significant differences between males and females were: age, scholarship, attendance at religious services, age of initiation of smoking, alcohol consumption, social participation, relationship between parents, parental supervision, age of sexual activity initiation and sexuality discussions. There were no associations between the age of sexual activity initiation and other study independent variables, with exception of scholarship. The appraisal of trends in adolescent sexuality sets the basis for the development of rapprochement strategies specific to each vulnerable group, considering local realities, instances for understanding and individual styles of sexuality approach.