Background: Nowadays,
adolescent population begins
sexual activity earlier, a
behavior with negativepsychological ana social consequences.
Aim: To determine the
association between
family factors and early
sexual activity in
adolescents oflow and middle
socioeconomic level . Material and
Methods: A sample of 3,210
adolescents ,
who confidentially requested care in a
sexual and reproductive health university center, between 2000 and 2007, was analyzed.
Adolescents who started
sexual activity before 15years ofage, and those
who started
sexual activity after 15years ofage, were compared. Data was collectedfrom structured interviews conducted at the adolescente firstvisit.
Logistic regression was used to identify
family factors associated with early sexual initiatingin both,
men and
women .
Results: Family factors associated with early
sexual activity startwere not being raised by both
parents , apoor
parent-child relationship , a poor
family communication ,
mothers with a
history of
adolescent motherhood ,
mothers employed outside the home and
family dysfunction. Among
women , the variables associated with a higher
risk of early sexual debut were not married
parents and
history of
adolescent fatherhood record among
parents . Among
men , these variables were permissions without restriction during the week and
punishment when
family rules were broken.
Conclusions: Family factors must be considered in the design ofstrategies to prevent early
sexual activity .