Motives for the first sexual experience and sexual behaviours practiced among out of school Youths in Mpimbwe District, Katavi Region Tanzania

Abstract

Background: Early sexual debut is a common practice among youth in Africa. However, little is known about motives for the first sexual experience and subsequent sexual behaviours practiced among out-of-school youths.

Objective: To determine motives for the first sexual experience and sexual behaviours practiced among out-of-school youths in Mpimbwe District, Katavi region Tanzania

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 320 out-of-school youths in Mpimbwe district. Data was collected through structured questions, analysed using SPSS version 22, results summarised and presented in textual and tabular formats.

Results: The age of the respondents ranged from 15 to 24 years. Age at first sexual experience varied from 14 to 19 years with a median age of 16 years. By the age of 14, about a quarter of the girls (26.8%) and relatively few boys (1.9%) had their first sexual experience. None of the respondents reported to use prevention against the consequences of unprotected sex during the first sexual experience. Pleasure was the main motive (79.1%) for the first sexual experience followed by gifts (18.6%) and these varied significantly by age and sex. Majority (98.4%) were aware of vaginal sex and had personal experience with it. Other common sexual behaviours reported were masturbation (81.9%) and anal sex (75.6%). None had practiced anal sex and a third of males (33.1%) and a few females (7.5%) had practiced masturbation. Other sexual behaviours reported were frotteurism, wet and dry sex.

Conclusion: Early sexual debut was common among out-of-school youths with less protection against the consequences of unprotected sex. Pleasure and gifts were the main motives for the first sexual experience. Different sexual behaviours are known and practiced by the study respondents. There is a need for effective educational interventions on safe sex for informed decisions on sexual behaviour among this population sub-group