title: Factors associated with attitude toward premarital sexual activities among school-going adolescents in Kelantan, Malaysia.
abstract: The objective of this cross-sectional study was to determine the factors associated with the attitudes toward premarital sexual activities among school-going adolescents in Kelantan, Malaysia. It was conducted among 1032 secondary school students using a self-administered validated questionnaire. Multiple logistic regression revealed that the risk factors for having permissive attitudes toward practice of premarital sexual activities were male students (odds ratio [OR] = 1.83; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.34-2.48), being less religious (OR = 2.02; 95% CI = 1.49-2.73), and younger age group of students (13 to 14 years old; OR = 1.42; 95% CI = 1.05-1.92). Having good knowledge on sexual and reproductive health was a protective factor against permissive sexual attitude (OR = 0.27; 95% CI = 0.20-0.36). In conclusion, male and young adolescents were at risk of having permissive attitudes toward sexual behaviors, but good knowledge on sexual and reproductive health and being more religious may protect them from it.
authors: Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, Malaysia azriani@kb.usm.my.
authors: Azriani Abdul
authors: AA
authors: Rahman
authors: Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, Malaysia.
authors: Razlina Abdul
authors: RA
authors: Rahman
authors: Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, Malaysia.
authors: Shaiful Bahari
authors: SB
authors: Ismail
authors: Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, Malaysia.
authors: Mohd Ismail
authors: MI
authors: Ibrahim
authors: Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, Malaysia.
authors: Siti Hawa
authors: SH
authors: Ali
authors: Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, Malaysia.
authors: Halim
authors: H
authors: Salleh
authors: Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, Malaysia.
authors: Wan Abdul Manan
authors: WA
authors: Wan Muda
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001290:Attitude; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019359:Knowledge; D008296:Malaysia; D008297:Male; D016017:Odds Ratio; D060728:Reproductive Health; D012307:Risk Factors; D012574:Schools; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires