Age at First Sexual Intercourse and Parity among Women in Urban Poor Communities Accra Ghana.

Abstract

The study of age at first sexual intercourse and parity examined the relationship between age at first sexual intercourse and parity among women in three selected urban poor communities in Accra, Ghana. The study investigated the average age at first sexual intercourse among women aged 15-49 years and their implications on fertility. The unit of analysis was individual women aged 15-49 years and the data set that was used for the analysis was the EDULINK 2011 wave two. Statistical measures such as percentages and means were used to describe the relationship between the background characteristics and the mean parities. Simple linear and multiple regression analyses were also used to analyze the effects of age at first sexual intercourse on parity and the effect of the background characteristics on parity. It was found out through the analyses that the average age at first sexual intercourse among women within the three selected urban poor communities was 17.96 years while the average parity was 2.17 births per woman. The bivariate and multivariate analyses, showed an inverse relationship between age at first sexual intercourse and parity, in that a lower age at first sexual intercourse increased the parity of a woman, hence confirming the hypothesis. Based on the findings, it was recommended that laws in Ghana governing age at first sex should be made stricter by raising the age. Extensive campaign on the knowledge and use of contraception should be embarked on by government and other stakeholders to educate women. Female education should be encouraged, also religious bodies should encourage young women to postpone first sex until they are ready.