Early Sexual Debut: Does It Really Matter?

The effects of early sexual debut have various public health consequences that disproportionately effect youths of minority groups. The study examined the relationship of early sexual debut and condom use in young Black men (YBM). A cross-sectional study of YBM (N=561) attending clinics treating STIs in three cities was conducted. Mean age was 19.6 years (SD=1.87). More than a quarter of the participants (28%) were aged 12 years or younger during their first sexual encounter. More than half of the men (58%) engaged in unprotected vaginal sex in the last 2 months. Early sexual debut provided no predictive insight into the correct condom use (OR=1.26, 95% CI=0.640-2.49), inconsistent condom use (OR=1.46, 95% CI=.737-2.89) or condom use during the most recent sexual encounter (OR=1.63, 95% CI=.827-3.18) of YBM. The findings diverge from previous evidence suggesting that early sexual debut is a proxy for increased sexual risk in other populations of young people. The results indicate that early sexual debut does not predict increased sexual risk behavior later in life (condom use and errors with condom use). From a practice perspective, assessing age of debut as part of a sexual history may not be justified. Years of sexual experience may not have a maturation effect on this population of young people (i.e., those debuting early had not “mastered” condom use or the avoidance of STIs any more than those recently debuting. This lack of a natural developmental progression toward safer sex is an important observation that strongly justifies efforts to provide young Black males.