Abstract Book Vol. 2 [International Conference on AIDS (14th: 2002: Barcelona, Spain)]

216 Abstracts WePeE6527-WePeE6530

XIV International AIDS Conference

Methods: This paper uses part of a larger survey (Aug. 2001 to Sept. 2001) carried out in the Grass-fields, West Province of Cameroon. This region basically
agricultural, has a polygamic dominance and sex is a taboo. A face to face questionnaire exploring the sexual behaviour, was used to collect data from 903 boys
and girls aged 15-19 years randomly selected. Simple cross tabulation and logistic regression analysis were used to assess factors related to FSI and the non-use
of condom.
Results: 53.2% of the adolescents have had their FSI. The mean age at the FSI
was lower for boys than for girls (14.8vs15.8, p<0.005). Other information(%) in
the patterns of sexual initiation are shown in the table.
Characteristics of the FSI All(n=481) Male(n=251) Female(230) p-value
Age at FSI <15 years 26.9 32.1 23.9 <0.0001
Fisrt sex was not volontary 30.7 22.7 39.5 <0.0001
First partner older 58.8 27.1 93.5 <0.0001
Non-use of condom durin the FSI 78.8 75.3 82.6 <0.05
Odd ratios (OR) from logistic regression analyses showed that residence and
education seem to play important roles with regard to the likelihood of condom
non-use during the FSI. Failure to use condom was more likely among adolescents living in rural area (OR: 3.1 'boys' vs 3.3 'girls') and among non-scholars
(2.5 vs 2.7). Boys aged<15years at the moment of the FSI were 5.6 times more
likely not to use condom. Non-voluntary sex was associated with a high likelihood
of condom non-use among girls (6.2).
Conclusion: This study shows a high risk associated to the FSI and suggests
the need to set up HIV/AIDS programmes which target youths early before the
age of initiation to sexual life.
Presenting author: Joseph Kemmegne, POBox: 8030, Yaounde, Cameroon,
Tel.: [phone], Fax: [phone], E-mail: [email protected]
WePeE6527 Sexual debut: An investigation into mediators of
first sexual experiences and implications for
prevention
K.J. Kelly, RP.N. Ntlabati. Centre for AIDS Development, Research and Evaluation
(CADRE), CADRE/ISER, PRO. Box 94, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, 6140,
South Africa
Background: Levels of sexual activity amongst early adolescents and age differentials at sexual debut need to be addressed in designing HIV prevention
programmes. The paper presents survey and follow-up qualitative research on
mediators of sexual debut in a rural area of South Africa.
Methods: Community surveys with 620 youths aged 15-30 years in 6 diverse
sentinel sites in South Africa; 12 indepth interviews with respondents aged 18-65
years; 6 focus group discussions.
Results: Amongst the findings are that 42% of the 71% of youth who had had sex
before, had their first sexual experience before 15 years old. It was also found that
23% of girls had their first sexual experience with a partner 5 or more years older
than themselves. Rural sites had significantly lower ages of debut and greater
age differentials at debut. Socio-economic and education factors are identified as
important mediators with respect both to age of sexual debut and relative age of
partner at debut. Particular attention is drawn to social and cultural circumstances
which make young females in impoverished environments susceptible to coercion
by older males, especially in situations of migrancy.
Conclusions: There has been little recognition of the need to understand factors
mediating sexual debut and lack of programme development around this issue
in South Africa. The challenges are great, because whereas early sexual experiences are often conceived of as instances of behaviour, in many respects early
sexual experience is mediated by non-behavioural phenomena. It is suggested
that such phenomena are not best addressed by appealing to, or incentivising individuals to change their behaviour. A more comprehensive approach is required
which addresses 'upstream' mediators of early sexuality Suggestions are made
about how interventions might be designed which take this fuller context of behaviour into account.
Presenting author: Kevin Kelly, CADRE/ISER, RO. Box 94, Rhodes University,
Grahamstown, 6140, South Africa, Tel.: [phone], Fax: [phone],
E-mail: [email protected]
WePeE6528 Sex behavior and peer influence among Chinese
college students
Z. Sun1, H. Zhang1, M. Qu1, R. Mao1, X. Li2. 1Nanjing University Institute of
Menta/ Hea/th, Institute of Mental Health, Nanjing University Nanjing, 210093,
China; 2 es Virginia University School of Medicine, Morgantown, WV United
States
The present study was designed to examine sex behavior, peer influence, com
munication between boys and girls, and knowledge about safe sex among college
students in China. 1874 students (1042 boys and 829 girls) were randomly selected from 19 universities in Jiangsu, an eastern province in China. The sample
consists of 499 freshman, 769 sophomore, 463 junior, and 116 senior students.
Data analyses indicate that 69% students have intimate friends of opposite sex,
48% of them have intimate physical contact, and 16% reported they had sexual
intercourse. Of those sexually experienced, 29% have more than two sexual part
ners and about 1% had STD. There are significant gender and grade differences
in sexual behavior with more boys (75?) boys, more juniors and seniors (71.2%),
and more students having sex.
Most students perceived that they could be responsible for their sex behavior.
About two-thirds do not approve premarital sex among students. Chi-square test
suggested a significance gender difference on the attitudes of sex communication and the related perceptions. The girls think it is bad for girls to have multiple
sexual partners. But the boys think it is bad for girls but cool for boys. The girls believed they have more control over their sex behavior than boys. They perceived
that they do not need use condoms if they are in a serious relationship (82%).
The results also showed that the attitude and the knowledge of AIDS and STD
among college students are highly correlated with their behavior such as having sex, using condoms. In addition, more students from universities in big cities
are sexually active than those located in small cities. However, most of students
engaged in sex come from rural area. The data underscore the importance to
improve healthy education and cultivate scientific peers sub-culture of college
student to guide their sex behavior. We also need promote merits for the Chinese
traditional culture about sex.
Presenting author: Zhifeng Sun, Institute of Mental Health, Nanjing University,
Nanjing, 210093, China, Tel.: [phone], Fax: [phone], E-mail:
highere @ netra.nju.edu.cn
WePeE6529I Adolescent health project makes waves in
Paraguay
P.A.C. Aquilar Cabrera. NGO, Arasa 1967 c/Hernan Cortes, Lambare, Paraguay
"A major contribution of the project was towards a weakening of social taboo
against open discussion of adolescent sexual and reproductive health issues in
Paraguay, there setting the stage for these issues to be addressed in a more
comprehensive manner in the future."Con "S de Sexo" radio show is only one of
a host of activities aimed at adolescents 15-19 in urban and periurban Asuncion
developed and executed by Arte y Parte, an adolescent reproductive health communications project implemented by PSI and its Paraguayan affiliate Promocion
y Mejoramiento de la Salud (PROMESA).
The following are some of the key lessons emerging from the Arte y Parte experience.
Mass media interventions can effectively reach large numbers of adolescents at
modest cosl As in most communications interventions, market segmentation and
message targeting are crul in interventions aimed at adolescents, as adolescents
are not a homogenous group.
While radio programming and street theatre presentations were successful in
reaching Paragua- youth, they may not be the most effective way of providing
in-depth information.
More continuous and intense interventions may be necessary in the future in
arder to prom more significant behavior changes.
In conjunction with mass media interventions, it is al so important to ensure that
resources (e counselors, youth centers, hotlines, and youth-friendly reproductive
health services) are availa to provide help to youth.
No evidence was found supporting the belief that discussion of sexual and reproductive he, issues will act as an invitation for youth to be promiscuous and have
sexual relations.
Alle y Palle was always meant to serve as a model and encourage similar efforts both in Paragl and other countries. To that end, All e y Pall e has developed a
replication manual which explains various steps necessary in developing a project
of this type. Alley Palle has inspired similar projE and activities in Albania, Central America, and Cuba.
Presenting author: Patricia Aguilar Cabrera, Arasa 1967 c/ Hernan Cortes, Lambare, Paraguay, Tel.: [phone], Fax: [phone], E-mail: arteyparte
@promesa.org.py
WePeE6530 Emergency contraception is underutilized by
young women as a back-up to barrier method
failure
M.M. Mqhayi. Reproductive Health Research Unit, University of the
Witwatersrand, Reproductive Health Research Unit, Chris-Hani Baragwanath
Hospital, PO Bertsham, 2013, South Africa
IntroductionSub-Saharan Africa is facing an HIV epidemic of catastrophic proportions with the highest incidence of new cases in young women. Access to
emergency contraception (EC) as a back-up to barrier method use is an important component of the family planning method mix and EC is available free at
public health facilities in South Africa. This study was undertaken to determine
the extent of use of emergency contraception by young women attending primary
health clinics in a rural and an urban area of South Africa.
Methodlnterviews in the form of structured questionnaires were conducted at
seventeen (17) and fourteen (14) primary health care clinics in urban Gauteng

(GP) and rural Kwazulu Natal (KZN) respectively.
ResultsA total of 193 women aged 15-49 years completed exit interviews at the
two study sites. 85.3% of respondents in GP and 84% in KZN had engaged in
sexual intercourse. Of the 120 young women who had ever been pregnant, 79%
had conceived before reaching the age of 20. More (76.3%) of sexually-active respondents in Gauteng were currently using a method of contraception, compared
to 52% in KZN. Barrier methods were found to be 26% of clinic-based contra