Abstract:
Background: Globally, 333 million new cases of curable sexual transmitted infections
estimated in each year. Approximately 11% of all births worldwide and nearly 95%
of these birth occur in developing countries. In Africa region all female in Liberia
and Kongo had first sexual intercourse at age of 18 has 78% and 77% respectively. In
Ethiopia, 29% had the first sexual intercourse before age 15 years, 62% before age 18
years 58% marry before the age of 18, which can increase the vulnerability of early
sexual debut.
Methods: The 2016 Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey (EDHS) dataset were
used and a total of 11962 participants reproductive age were included. Bayesian mul tilevel logistic regression model was applied to investigate the risk factors and regional
variations in early sexual debut among women in Ethiopia. The prevalence of early
sexual debut have been analyzed with factors like age, education, place of residence,
wealth index, occupation, region, religion and marital status.
Results: Out of 11962 (75.2%) had their first sexual intercourse before the age of
18 years was early sexual debut among women in Ethiopia respectively. About 69.7%
women to having experience of sexual debut where living in rural area and 30% liv ing in urban area. The odd of women who come from urban area 42.1% less likely
(OR=0.579 ) to having experienced early sexual debut compared to women who come
from rural area. Poorer was 20.3% (OR=1.203) times more likely to experience early
sexual debut when compared to poorest women. The odd of women working is in creased by 13.6%(OR=1.136) compared to women who have not working. Bayesian
multilevel random coefficient model is the most significant model and best fit to the
data.
Conclusions: Age, education, place of residence, wealth index, occupation and mar ital status was significantly affect the early sexual debut. Educational coverage and
community-level of wealth status are important intervention area to delay the age of
early sexual debut.
