title: Circumcision status and time to first sex among never-married young men in Malawi: evidence from the demographic and health survey.
abstract: This study examines the association between circumcision status and the timing of first sexual intercourse among adolescents in Malawi. Results of survival models applied to nationally representative sample of never-married young men aged between 15 and 24 obtained from the Demographic and Health Survey data show that being circumcised is associated with earlier initiation of sexual activity in Malawi. Young men who reported being circumcised experienced their first sexual intercourse earlier in life than their uncircumcised counterparts. Although the introduction of theoretically relevant knowledge, socio-cultural, demographic, and socioeconomic variables in the multivariate models attenuated the association between circumcision and earlier sexual initiation, the relationship nonetheless remained robust. The study concludes by discussing the implications of these findings and suggests relevant policy recommendations.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Interdisciplinary Studies, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, ON K1S 5B6, Canada. Paul_Mkandawire@carleton.ca
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mkandawire
authors.forename: Isaac
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Luginaah
authors.forename: Jenna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dixon
authors.forename: Frederick
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Armah
authors.forename: Godwin
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Arku
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002944:Circumcision, Male / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003075:Coitus / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008295:Malawi / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012847:Single Person / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult