title: Prevalence and risk factors of early onset of sexual intercourse in a random sample of a multiethnic adolescent population in French Guiana.
abstract: French Guiana, a French overseas department in South America, has been classified epidemic for HIV. This territory is consisting of a very young population with almost 45% of them being younger than 20 years of age. Delaying the onset of first sexual intercourse (SI) is one of the major objectives to fight HIV infection in adolescents. The objective of this study is to identify the age of first SI and the risk factors of early onset. A behavioural surveillance survey among students living on the coastline and alongside the Maroni River was conducted in 2011/2012. A total of 1603 students filled out the survey. While 60% had already SI, the mean age of first intercourse was 12.1 years for boys and 13.9 years for girls. Accordingly, over 90% had a premature onset of SI. Risk factors are age, male gender, living alongside the Maroni River, another language than the French being mother tongue, not being religious, alcohol and cannabis consumption and a bad attitude towards condom use. Risk factors for girls are an older first sexual partner, having more than three lifetime sexual partners and condom rupture. Evidence-based implementation with respect of local and socio-demographic aspects is necessary to improve youths' appreciation of SI and related risk of sexual transmitted diseases.
authors.affiliation: a Centre d'Investigation Clinique Antilles Guyane , INSERM CIC 1424, Centre Hospitalier Andrée Rosemon , Cayenne , France.
authors.forename: Gülen
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ayhan
authors.forename: Loic
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: Mathieu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Levy-Loeb
authors.forename: Stéphanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: Géneviève
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Euzet
authors.forename: Astrid
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Van Melle
authors.forename: Marie-Claire
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Parriault
authors.forename: Célia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Basurko
authors.forename: Mathieu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nacher
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology; D040343:Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System; D003075:Coitus; D017280:Condoms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005616:French Guiana / Q000453:epidemiology; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012747:Sexual Partners; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: HIV prevention and control; adolescent; adolescent behaviour; coitus; sexual behaviour