Substance use and risky sexual behaviours among sexually experienced Ghanaian youth

The association between risky sexual behaviours and substance uses among Ghanaian youth were investigated.
An in-school cross-sectional representative survey was conducted among 12-18-year- old youth (N=1165, response rate =90%). Logistic regression analyses were employed to investigate the association between substance use and risky sexual behaviours.
Of all adolescents, 25% (28% boys and 23% girls) were sexually experienced. The mean age for first sexual intercourse was 14.8 years (14.4 years for boys and 15.1 years for girls). Among the sexually experienced, 31% had multiple sexual partners. Older age (OR=3.4, 95% CI=1.7-3.4) and rural residency (OR=1.5, 95% CI=1.1-2.1) were independently associated with sexual debut while only older age (OR=2.4, 95% CI=1.7-3.4) was associated with condom use. Additionally, smoking (OR=3.7, 95% CI=2.0-6.8), tawa use (OR=2.4, 95% CI=1.3-4.7), tobacco use (OR=2.8, 95% CI=1.7-4.7) drunkenness (OR=1.7, 95% CI=1.1-2.8) and marijuana use (OR=3.3, 95% CI=1.6-7.0) were independently associated with sexual debut. Furthermore, all substance uses studied were associated with having one or multiple sexual partners.
Substance use seems to be a gateway for risky sexual behaviours among adolescents. Interventions should take into account the likelihood of substance use among sexually experienced youth.