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ASSOCIATION BETWEEN SINGLE-PARENT FAMILYSTRUCTURE AND AGE OF SEXUAL DEBUT AMONG YOUNGPERSONS IN JAMAICA

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 February 2018

Daniel C. Oshi ,
Jordan Mckenzie ,
Martin Baxter ,
Royelle Robinson ,
Stephan Neil ,
Tayla Greene ,
Wayne Wright  and
Jeorghino Lodge
Daniel C. Oshi*
Affiliation:
Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of the West Indies, Kingston, Jamaica
Jordan Mckenzie
Affiliation:
Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of the West Indies, Kingston, Jamaica
Martin Baxter
Affiliation:
Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of the West Indies, Kingston, Jamaica
Royelle Robinson
Affiliation:
Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of the West Indies, Kingston, Jamaica
Stephan Neil
Affiliation:
Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of the West Indies, Kingston, Jamaica
Tayla Greene
Affiliation:
Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of the West Indies, Kingston, Jamaica
Wayne Wright
Affiliation:
Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of the West Indies, Kingston, Jamaica
Jeorghino Lodge
Affiliation:
Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of the West Indies, Kingston, Jamaica
*
1Corresponding author. Email: dannyoshi@yahoo.com
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Summary

There is a high and increasing proportion ofsingle-parent families in Jamaica. This has raisedconcerns about the potential impact of single-parentfamilies on the social, cognitive and behaviouraldevelopment of children, including their sexualrelationships. The aim of this study was toinvestigate the association between being raised ina single-parent family and age of sexual debut amongyoung people in Jamaica. The study wascross-sectional in design, and based on amulti-stage sampling procedure. The study wasconducted in July/September 2016. The study samplecomprised 233 respondents (110 males and 123females) aged from 18 to 35 years (mean 26.37 years;SD 5.46). Respondents completed a self-administeredquestionnaire with questions on socio-demographiccharacteristics, family structure, sexual debut andcurrent sexual behaviour. Ninety-seven (41.7%)respondents grew up in single-parent families. Atotal of 201 (86.3%) had had sex (102 males and 99females). Their mean age of sexual debut was 15.51years (SD 3.41). Sixty-five (32.3%) had early sexualdebut (<16 years). Respondents fromsingle-parent families were more likely to have hadearly sexual debut (56.9%; n=37)compared with those from two-parent families (43.1%,n=28;p=0.004). Only 44.6%(n=29) of those who experiencedearly sexual debut used a condom during their firstsexual encounter compared with 73%(n=100) of those who had a latersexual debut (≥16 years;p=<0.001). A single-fatherfamily structure was a significant predictor ofearly sexual debut (AOR 5.5; 95%CI: 1.1–25.8). Thestudy found a significant association betweensingle-parent family structure and age of sexualdebut.

Information

Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Biosocial Science , Volume 51 , Issue 2 , March 2019 , pp. 177 - 187
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press, 2018 

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