Socioeconomic inequality in early sexual initiation among female youths in sub-Saharan African countries: a decomposition analysis
Abstract Introduction Youths are defined as individuals within the age group 15–24 years. It is the transitional stage from childhood to adulthood with biological, social, and psychological change, so it is a time of risk and opportunity for their future life. Early sexual initiation exposes young p...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2023-07-01
|
| Series: | BMC Public Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-023-16124-6 |
| _version_ | 1827905245250846720 |
|---|---|
| author | Elsa Awoke Fentie Atitegeb Abera Kidie Samrawit Mihret Fetene Ever Siyoum Shewarega |
| author_facet | Elsa Awoke Fentie Atitegeb Abera Kidie Samrawit Mihret Fetene Ever Siyoum Shewarega |
| author_sort | Elsa Awoke Fentie |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Introduction Youths are defined as individuals within the age group 15–24 years. It is the transitional stage from childhood to adulthood with biological, social, and psychological change, so it is a time of risk and opportunity for their future life. Early sexual initiation exposes young people to various social, economic, sexual, and reproductive health issues, such as unwanted adolescent pregnancies, sexually transmitted infections, unsafe abortion, cervical cancer, and early marriages. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the presence of socioeconomic inequality in early sexual initiation and contributing factors in sub-Saharan African countries. Methods A total of 118,932 weighted female youths from SSA countries’ DHS data were included in the study. Socioeconomic inequality of Early sexual initiation was evaluated using the Erreygers znormalized concentration index and associated concentration curve. Decomposition analysis was performed to determine those factors causing socioeconomic-related inequality. Results The weighted Erreygers normalized concentration index of wealth-related inequality of early sexual initiation was − 0.157 with a Standard error = 0.0046 (P value < 0.0001); this indicated that early sexual initiation was disproportionately concentrated among the poor (pro-poor). Moreover, the weighted Erreygers normalized concentration index (ECI) of educational status-related inequality of early sexual initiation was − 0.205 with a Standard error = 0.0043 (P value < 0.0001). This indicated that early sexual initiation was disproportionately concentrated among youths with no formal education. The decomposition analysis revealed that mass media exposure, wealth index, place of residency, religion, marital status, educational status, and age were significant contributors to the pro-poor socioeconomic inequalities in early sexual initiation. Conclusion and recommendation This study has revealed pro-poor inequality in early sexual initiation. Therefore, priority must be given to modifiable factors such as promoting the accessibility of media exposure in the household, improving the educational opportunity of female youths, and improving their country’s economy to a higher economic level to improve the wealth status of the population. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-13T00:39:14Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-eece78fd24a6430cbd750cdfc4353c82 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2458 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-13T00:39:14Z |
| publishDate | 2023-07-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Public Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-eece78fd24a6430cbd750cdfc4353c822023-07-09T11:27:06ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582023-07-0123111110.1186/s12889-023-16124-6Socioeconomic inequality in early sexual initiation among female youths in sub-Saharan African countries: a decomposition analysisElsa Awoke Fentie0Atitegeb Abera Kidie1Samrawit Mihret Fetene2Ever Siyoum Shewarega3Department of Reproductive Health, Institute of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of GondarSchool of public health, college of health science, Woldia UniversityDepartment of Health Systems and Policy, Institute of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of GondarDepartment of Reproductive Health, Institute of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of GondarAbstract Introduction Youths are defined as individuals within the age group 15–24 years. It is the transitional stage from childhood to adulthood with biological, social, and psychological change, so it is a time of risk and opportunity for their future life. Early sexual initiation exposes young people to various social, economic, sexual, and reproductive health issues, such as unwanted adolescent pregnancies, sexually transmitted infections, unsafe abortion, cervical cancer, and early marriages. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the presence of socioeconomic inequality in early sexual initiation and contributing factors in sub-Saharan African countries. Methods A total of 118,932 weighted female youths from SSA countries’ DHS data were included in the study. Socioeconomic inequality of Early sexual initiation was evaluated using the Erreygers znormalized concentration index and associated concentration curve. Decomposition analysis was performed to determine those factors causing socioeconomic-related inequality. Results The weighted Erreygers normalized concentration index of wealth-related inequality of early sexual initiation was − 0.157 with a Standard error = 0.0046 (P value < 0.0001); this indicated that early sexual initiation was disproportionately concentrated among the poor (pro-poor). Moreover, the weighted Erreygers normalized concentration index (ECI) of educational status-related inequality of early sexual initiation was − 0.205 with a Standard error = 0.0043 (P value < 0.0001). This indicated that early sexual initiation was disproportionately concentrated among youths with no formal education. The decomposition analysis revealed that mass media exposure, wealth index, place of residency, religion, marital status, educational status, and age were significant contributors to the pro-poor socioeconomic inequalities in early sexual initiation. Conclusion and recommendation This study has revealed pro-poor inequality in early sexual initiation. Therefore, priority must be given to modifiable factors such as promoting the accessibility of media exposure in the household, improving the educational opportunity of female youths, and improving their country’s economy to a higher economic level to improve the wealth status of the population.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-023-16124-6Early sexual initiationSocioeconomic inequalityYouthDecomposition analysisDHSSub-Saharan Africa |
| spellingShingle | Elsa Awoke Fentie Atitegeb Abera Kidie Samrawit Mihret Fetene Ever Siyoum Shewarega Socioeconomic inequality in early sexual initiation among female youths in sub-Saharan African countries: a decomposition analysis BMC Public Health Early sexual initiation Socioeconomic inequality Youth Decomposition analysis DHS Sub-Saharan Africa |
| title | Socioeconomic inequality in early sexual initiation among female youths in sub-Saharan African countries: a decomposition analysis |
| title_full | Socioeconomic inequality in early sexual initiation among female youths in sub-Saharan African countries: a decomposition analysis |
| title_fullStr | Socioeconomic inequality in early sexual initiation among female youths in sub-Saharan African countries: a decomposition analysis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Socioeconomic inequality in early sexual initiation among female youths in sub-Saharan African countries: a decomposition analysis |
| title_short | Socioeconomic inequality in early sexual initiation among female youths in sub-Saharan African countries: a decomposition analysis |
| title_sort | socioeconomic inequality in early sexual initiation among female youths in sub saharan african countries a decomposition analysis |
| topic | Early sexual initiation Socioeconomic inequality Youth Decomposition analysis DHS Sub-Saharan Africa |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-023-16124-6 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT elsaawokefentie socioeconomicinequalityinearlysexualinitiationamongfemaleyouthsinsubsaharanafricancountriesadecompositionanalysis AT atitegebaberakidie socioeconomicinequalityinearlysexualinitiationamongfemaleyouthsinsubsaharanafricancountriesadecompositionanalysis AT samrawitmihretfetene socioeconomicinequalityinearlysexualinitiationamongfemaleyouthsinsubsaharanafricancountriesadecompositionanalysis AT eversiyoumshewarega socioeconomicinequalityinearlysexualinitiationamongfemaleyouthsinsubsaharanafricancountriesadecompositionanalysis |