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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 ,
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: [email protected]
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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
Information
Journal of Biosocial Science , Volume 51 , Issue 2 , March 2019 , pp. 177 - 187
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press, 2018 

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