Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #112076

Jennifer Simmons, RN, MPH, School of Public Health, Community Health Sciences, UCLA, Charles E Young Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90095, 310-202-7376, simmonsbz@mindspring.com

BACKGROUND: The timing of sexual debut is an important transition in a person's reproductive trajectory. Previous research have implicated early sexual debut in the development of subsequent risky sex-related behaviours. This study's purpose is to assesses the effect of selected demographic factors on the timing of sexual debut in Belize and determine their ensuing impact on sexual behaviours that modify HIV risk.

METHODS: The data source is the two family health surveys conducted in 1999 on 4,064 women and 1,773 men. Timing of sexual initiation is analysed by survival analysis; logistic regressions are used to analyse subsequent HIV risk reduction behaviours.

RESULTS: The onset of sexual activity for females is delayed by Catholicism and primary school education (HR: 0.73, CI: 0.64, 0.83; HR: 0.35, CI: 0.28, 0.43 respectively). Primary school education increases the odds of condom use at sexual debut for both males (OR: 2.2, CI: 1.32, 3.35) and females (OR: 4.32, CI: 2.57, 7.27); heightens the probability that females will modify their behaviour to mitigate HIV risk (OR: 1.31, CI: 1.05, 1.63); additionally it increases the odds of future condom use amongst women (OR: 1.9, CI: 2.36, 2.66). Using condoms at sexual debut amplifies the odds for future condom use by males (OR: 3.44, CI: 2.25, 5.25) and females (OR: 5.39, CI: 4.04, 7.2).

CONCLUSION: Females can benefit significantly from programmes designed to keep girls in school. The formal introduction of HIV education in the curricula of Belizean schools would optimise the benefits of primary education on HIV risk.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify the factors that influence sexual debut in Belize.
• Recognise the combined effect of these factors and early sexual initiation on future HIV risk behaviours.
• Discuss structural interventions and policy recommendations to decrease HIV risk in Belize.

Keywords: Sexual Risk Behavior, Women and HIV/AIDS

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.

Recorded presentation