ArticleReproductive health2022
Geographical hotspots and correlates of early sexual debut among women in Ghana.
Article in Reproductive health, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 9 papers.
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9 citing papers in PubMed.
- Understanding Cervical Cancer Screening Intentions Through the Lens of Care-Seeking Behavior: A Cross-Sectional Study Among Islamic Women in Ghana.Health science reports · 2026Article
- Adolescent pregnancy estimates, spatial distribution, and policy implications in the Volta Region, Ghana, 2019-2023.Scientific reports · 2026Article
- Article
- From early sexual debut to later overweight and obesity: a multilevel analysis of Ghanaian women.Tropical medicine and health · 2025Article
- Factors influencing clinical breast cancer screening: A cross-sectional study among Islamic women in Kumasi Metropolis of Ghana.PloS one · 2025Article
- Age at first sex and other determinants of multiple sexual partnerships among sexually active adolescent girls in Ghana: a regression analysis of the 2022 Ghana demographic and health survey.Tropical medicine and health · 2024Article
- Geographically weighted regression analysis to assess hotspots of early sexual initiation and associated factors in Ethiopia.Heliyon · 2024Article
- "You cannot stay with one person once you begin having sex at a young age": the prevalence, correlates and effects of early sexual debut among children in Ghana.Reproductive health · 2024Article
- Prevalence and associated factors of early sexual initiation among youth female in sub-Saharan Africa: a multilevel analysis of recent demographic and health surveys.BMC women's health · 2023Article
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Abstract
objectivesGeneralisation of sexual behaviour, including early sexual initiation, does not provide comprehensive knowledge of young people's sexual attitudes, behaviours and challenges, given the high sociocultural diversity and economic inequalities within countries. This study examines geographical hotspots of early sexual initiation, at the district level in Ghana and the factors associated with the observed spatial patterns.
methodsData was derived from the 2017 Ghana Maternal Health Survey, covering 21,392 women aged 15-49 years. Early sexual debut denotes first sexual intercourse before attaining the legal age of sexual consent, which in Ghana, is 16 years. The Bayesian geoadditive semiparametric regression technique was used to examine geographical hotspots and correlates of the observed spatial patterns, classified into demographic, socioeconomic and pregnancy outcome factors.
resultsThe results show that 26.7% (95% CI = 26.1-27.3) of women had their first sexual intercourse before attaining the age of 16 years. Hotspots of early sexual debut was observed predominantly among districts along the mainstream of the Volta Lake, which are also reported hotspots of child trafficking, labour and slavery. Demographic, socioeconomic and pregnancy related factors were identified to be correlated with the observed spatial clustering.
conclusionPolicies and interventions such as sexual and reproductive health education should target at-risk population, simultaneously addressing other child abuses perpetuating the practice.
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