The Effect of Socio-Demographic Factors on Risky-Sexual Behaviours of Adolescents in the North West Province of South Africa

  • Acheampong Yaw Amoateng North-West University (Mafikeng Campus)
  • Ishmael Kalule-Sabiti North-West University (Mafikeng Campus)
  • Yaw Johnson Arkaah North-West University (Mafikeng Campus)
Keywords: Substance use, Peer influence, Lifetime sex, Religiosity, School attachment

Abstract

The present study sought to fill a research void on adolescent problem behaviours in South Africa by examining individual and contextual factors that affect sexual-risk taking behaviours amongst black African adolescents in a poor community of the North West Province of South Africa. Using the logistic and Poisson regression analytical techniques, we find that individual and contextual factors such as gender, grade, religiosity, peer influence, parental value of children, parent-child communication, school attachment, the use of alcohol and substance like tobacco and marijuana all affect sexual risk behaviours like lifetime sex, recent sexual activity and involvement with multiple sexual partners. Policy implications of these findings are discussed.

Author Biographies

Acheampong Yaw Amoateng, North-West University (Mafikeng Campus)
School of Research and Post-Graduate Studies
Ishmael Kalule-Sabiti, North-West University (Mafikeng Campus)
School of Research and Post-Graduate Studies
Yaw Johnson Arkaah, North-West University (Mafikeng Campus)
School of Research and Post-Graduate Studies
Published
2014-04-29