Early sexual debut among young men in rural South Africa: Heightened vulnerability to sexual risk?

Objective: This report examines early sexual debut (< age 15) among young men in rural South African including (1) risk behaviours at first sexual experience, and (2) age at first sex as a predictor of later sexual risk. Methods: Analysis of sexual behaviour data for men 15-24 years (n = 314) from representative cross sectional household survey. Results: 13.1% of 15-24 year old men experienced sexual debut before age 15. Men with sexual debut at less than age 15 were more likely to report risk behaviours at first sexual experience: no condom use (19%), a casual partner (26.8%), and not feeling they had been "ready and wanted to have sex" (19.5%). In multivariate analysis, early sexual debut was strongly associated with ≥ 3 partners in the past 3 years (OR = 10.26, p < 0.01). Conclusions: Men who initiate sex before age 15 form a distinct risk group in this setting. Specific interventions are needed for young men in the preteen years, before sexual debut.