Sexual Risk-Taking Behaviors among Boys Aged 15–18 Years in Tehran

Mohammad, Kazem; Farahani, Farideh Khalaj Abadi; Mohammadi, Mohammad Reza; Alikhani, Siamak; Zare, Mohammad; Tehrani, Fahimeh Ramezani; Ramezankhani, Ali; Hasanzadeh, Alireza; Ghanbari, Hossein

doi:10.1016/j.jadohealth.2007.05.003

« Previous Next »Journal of Adolescent Health
Volume 41, Issue 4 , Pages 407-414, October 2007

Sexual Risk-Taking Behaviors among Boys Aged 15–18 Years in Tehran

Kazem Mohammad, Ph.D.
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Farideh Khalaj Abadi Farahani, M.Sc., Ph.D. candidate
- Centre for Population Studies, Department of Epidemiology & Public Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
- Family Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran
- Address correspondence to: Farideh Khalaj Abadi Farahani, M.Sc., Ph.D. candidate, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, Centre for Population Studies, 51 Bedford Square, London WC1B 3DP, UK.
Mohammad Reza Mohammadi, M.D
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychiatry Research Centre, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Siamak Alikhani, M.D., M.P.H.
- Centre for Disease Control, Ministry of Health and Education, Tehran, Iran
Mohammad Zare, Ph.D.
- Centre for Disease Control, Ministry of Health and Education, Tehran, Iran
Fahimeh Ramezani Tehrani, M.D.
- Reproductive Health Research Unit, Ministry of Health and Medical Education, Tehran, Iran
Ali Ramezankhani, Ph.D.
- Department of Health, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran
Alireza Hasanzadeh, M.D.
- National Research Center for Medical Sciences of Iran, Tehran, Iran
Hossein Ghanbari, M.D.
- Kings College, University of London, London, United Kingdom
- National Research Center for Medical Sciences of Iran, Tehran, Iran

Received 24 July 2006; accepted 2 May 2007. published online 19 July 2007.

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the extent and potential correlates of sexual risk-taking behaviors among adolescent boys aged 15–18 in metropolitan Tehran.

Methods

Data were collected from a population-based, cross-sectional survey of adolescent males (ages 15–18) residing in Tehran, Iran. Of 1385 subjects, 382 reported sexual experience (27.7%). The article is mainly considering sexually experienced subjects. Two factors were considered as sexual risk-taking behavior (“not using condom or inconsistent condom use in sexual contacts” and “ever had multiple sexual partners in lifetime.” Several other factors were considered as independent variables and their relations were assessed using t test, χ² test, and logistic regression models.

Results

Having no access to Internet, feeling regretful at sexual debut, having one sexual partner in lifetime and lower knowledge of condoms are predictors of condom non-use. Older age, using alcoholic drinks, early sexual debut, and poor knowledge of reproductive physiology are predictors of multiple sexual partners among adolescent boys aged 15–18 years.

Conclusion

Appropriate interventional programs should be implemented for adolescents in Iran to encourage and enable them to delay first sex and abstain unwanted and unplanned penetrative sex, to stress the health risks of alcohol use in terms of sexual health and finally to enhance their knowledge on different aspects of reproductive health particularly prevention against STI/HIV.

Keywords: Sexual risk-taking behavior, Condom use, Sexual partner, Adolescent boys, Young people, Tehran, Iran