Hostname: page-component-7c8c6479df-995ml Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-03-18T23:07:45.735Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

ASSOCIATION BETWEEN SINGLE-PARENT FAMILY STRUCTURE AND AGE OF SEXUAL DEBUT AMONG YOUNG PERSONS IN JAMAICA

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 February 2018

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

Summary

There is a high and increasing proportion of single-parent families in Jamaica. This has raised concerns about the potential impact of single-parent families on the social, cognitive and behavioural development of children, including their sexual relationships. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between being raised in a single-parent family and age of sexual debut among young people in Jamaica. The study was cross-sectional in design, and based on a multi-stage sampling procedure. The study was conducted in July/September 2016. The study sample comprised 233 respondents (110 males and 123 females) aged from 18 to 35 years (mean 26.37 years; SD 5.46). Respondents completed a self-administered questionnaire with questions on socio-demographic characteristics, family structure, sexual debut and current sexual behaviour. Ninety-seven (41.7%) respondents grew up in single-parent families. A total of 201 (86.3%) had had sex (102 males and 99 females). Their mean age of sexual debut was 15.51 years (SD 3.41). Sixty-five (32.3%) had early sexual debut (<16 years). Respondents from single-parent families were more likely to have had early 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 experienced early sexual debut used a condom during their first sexual encounter compared with 73% (n=100) of those who had a later sexual debut (≥16 years; p=<0.001). A single-father family structure was a significant predictor of early sexual debut (AOR 5.5; 95%CI: 1.1–25.8). The study found a significant association between single-parent family structure and age of sexual debut.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press, 2018 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Adanikin, A. I., Adanikin, P. O., Orji, E. O. & Adeyanju, B. T. (2016) Survey of sexual activity and contraceptive use among unmarried young school and college drop-outs in a defined Nigerian population. Journal of Biosocial Science 3, 110.Google Scholar
Allen, C., Edwards, P., Gennari, F., Francis, C., Caffe, S., Boisson, E., Jones, S. & Jack, N. (2013) Evidence on delay in sexual initiation, multiple partnerships and condom use among young people: review of Caribbean HIV behavioural studies. West Indian Medical Journal 62(4), 292298.Google Scholar
Amato, P. R. & Patterson, S. E. (2017) Single-parent households and mortality among children and youth. Social Science Research 63, 253262.Google Scholar
Amato, P. R., Patterson, S. & Beattie, B. (2015) Single-parent households and children’s educational achievement: a state-level analysis. Social Science Research 53, 191202.Google Scholar
Chen, A. Y. & Escarce, J. J. (2008) Family structure and the treatment of childhood asthma. Medical Care 46(2), 174184.Google Scholar
Dhanookdhary, A. M., Gomez, A. M., Khan, R., Lall, A., Murray, D., Prabhu, D. et al. (2010) Substance use among university students at the St Augustine Campus of the University of the West Indies. West Indian Medical Journal 59(6), 641.Google Scholar
Goldberg, R. E., Tienda, M. & Adsera, A. (2017) Age at migration, family instability, and timing of sexual onset. Social Science Research 63, 292307.Google Scholar
Guo, W., Wu, Z., Qiu, Y., Chen, G. & Zheng, X. (2012) The timing of sexual debut among Chinese youth. International Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health 38(4), 196204.Google Scholar
Hill, K. (2011) Too many single parents. Jamaica Gleaner, 10th April 2011. URL: http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20110410/news/news5.html (accessed 2nd December 2016).Google Scholar
Kim, J. & Lee, J. E. (2012) Early sexual debut and condom nonuse among adolescents in South Korea. Sexual Health 9(5), 459465.Google Scholar
Kreager, D. A., Staff, J., Gauthier, R., Lefkowitz, E. S. & Feinberg, M. E. (2016) The double standard at sexual debut: gender, sexual behavior and adolescent peer acceptance. Sex Roles 75(7), 377392.Google Scholar
Meeks Gardner, J. M., Powell, C. A. & Grantham-McGregor, S. M. (2007) Determinants of aggressive and prosocial behaviour among Jamaican schoolboys. West Indian Medical Journal 56(1), 3441.Google Scholar
Mendle, J., Harden, K., Turkheimer, E., Van Hulle, C., D’Onofrio, B., Brooks-Gunn, J. et al. (2009) Associations between father absence and age of first sexual intercourse. Journal of Child Development 80(5), 14631480.Google Scholar
Odimegwu, C. & Somefun, O. D. (2017) Ethnicity, gender and risky sexual behaviour among Nigeria youth: an alternative explanation. Reproductive Health 14(1), 16.Google Scholar
Onyeonoro, U. U., Oshi, D. C., Ndimele, E. C., Chuku, N. C., Onyemuchara, I. L., Ezekwere, S. C. et al. (2011) Sources of sex information and its effects on sexual practices among in-school female adolescents in Osisioma Ngwa LGA, South East Nigeria. Journal of Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology 24(5), 294299.Google Scholar
Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) (2011) Doing Better for Families. OECD Publishing, Paris. URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1787/9789264098732-en (accessed 5th March 2017).Google Scholar
Peltzer, K. (2010) Early sexual debut and associated factors among in-school adolescents in eight African countries. Acta Paediatrica 99(8), 12421247.Google Scholar
Santelli, J. S., Lindberg, L. D., Abma, J., McNeely, C. S. & Resnick, M. (2000) Adolescent sexual behavior: estimates and trends from four nationally representative surveys. Family Planning Perspectives 32(4), 156.Google Scholar
Statistics Institute of Jamaica (STATIN) (2011) 2011 Census of Population & Housing – Jamaica. URL: http://statinja.gov.jm/Census/Census2011/Census%202011%20data%20from%20website.pdf (accessed 8th January 2017).Google Scholar
Valle, A. K., Torgersen, L., Røysamb, E., Klepp, K. I. & Thelle, D. S. (2005) Social class, gender and psychosocial predictors for early sexual debut among 16 year olds in Oslo. European Journal of Public Health 15(2), 185194.Google Scholar
Vespa, J., Lewis, J. M. & Kreider, R. M. (2013) America’s Families and Living Arrangements: 2012. US Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/prod/2013pubs/p20-570.pdf (accessed 9th March 2017).Google Scholar
Wisnieski, D., Sieving, R. & Garwick, A. (2013) Influence of peers on young adolescent females’ romantic decisions. American Journal of Health Education 44, 3240.Google Scholar
Zito, R. C. & De Coster, S. (2016) Family structure, maternal dating, and sexual debut: extending the conceptualization of instability. Journal of Youth and Adolescence 45(5), 10031019.Google Scholar