Socio-Economic Disparities And Adolescent Sexual Behaviour In Ghana

Abstract

Unequal distribution of socio-economic resources predisposes adolescents to the consequences of risky sexual behaviours. This study aimed to identify the extent to which two socio-economic factors wealth quintile and educational level influence risky sexual behaviour among adolescents’ aged between 15 and 19 in Ghana. Data from the 2008 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey (GDHS) were analysed. A total sample of 902 unmarried adolescent males and 929 unmarried adolescent females were studied. Safe sexual behaviour is defined as sexual abstinence or condom use if sexually active. Risky sexual behaviour is defined by condom non-use though sexually active or inconsistent condom use during sexual intercourse. Among the adolescents studied, 83.7 per cent of the males practise safe sexual behaviour whilst 73.3 per cent of the female adolescents, practised safe sexual behaviour. Most adolescents belong to the lower wealth quintile, which accounts for 59.4 per cent of adolescent males (poorest (18.4%), poorer (21.2%), and middle (19.8%)) and 53.4 per cent of the adolescent females (poorest (13.5%), poorer (18.1%) and middle (21.8%)). About 51 per cent of adolescent males and 58.3 per cent of the adolescent females had Middle/JHS education. Only small proportions (4.6 per cent for the adolescent males and 5.5 per cent of the adolescent females) had no education. Using a chi-square test (α<0.05), wealth quintile showed a significant association with sexual behaviour among adolescent females but was not significant among adolescent males. The age of adolescents also showed a significant association with sexual behaviour among both adolescent males and females. Region of residence of both adolescent males and females showed a significant association with sexual behaviour but lost its significance at the binary logistic regression level. The result of the binary logistic regression on adolescents’ sexual behaviour revealed that age was a significant predictor of risky sexual behaviour among both adolescent males and females. Wealth quintiles and ethnicity were significant predictors of risky sexual behaviour among adolescent females only. Contrary to expectations, educational level of the adolescents was not a significant predictor of risky sexual behaviour among both adolescent males and females in Ghana. Since risky sexual behaviour among adolescents increases with age, a comprehensive intervention programme is needed to encourage adolescents especially the older and sexually active adolescents to practise safe sexual behaviour. Preventive programmes also have to target the poor and the most vulnerable. These would be achieved if the social and cultural elements of the adolescents are instilled into the intervention programmes.