Peer influences to risky sexual behaviours among out-of-school adolescents in Kamuli Municipality
Date
2021
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Bioline International
Abstract
Adolescents engage in different deviant behaviours including
gambling, alcohol and substance abuse, violence acts and sexual behaviours.
These sexual behaviours have lasting reproductive health challenges,
increased risks of acquiring sexually transmitted infections (including HIV),
teenage pregnancies and death among adolescents which contribute to the
burdens of public health care.
To identify risky sexual behaviours among out-of-school adolescents
and peer influences to out-of-school adolescent engagement in risky sexual
behaviours in Kamuli Municipality.
The study was conducted in Kamuli Municipality (Southern and
Northern Division) among out-of-school adolescents. The study adopted
phenomenological study design and purposive sampling adopted as sampling
procedures for the study. Sample size included five (5) Focus group
discussions, twenty (20) In-depth interviews and three (3) Key informant
interviews upon which saturation was attained. Study respondents comprised
of out-of-school adolescents between 10 and 19 years of age living within
Kamuli Municipality; not in school and did not complete primary or secondary
education levels. The study comprised of sixty-seven (67) respondents (fortyfour (44) respondents that participated in the focus group discussions; twenty
(20) respondents that participated in in-depth interviews and three (3) key
informant interviews).
Study findings identified involvement in sexual relations with
boyfriends and girlfriends; sexual affairs with older persons (referred to as
sugar mummies and sugar daddy); involvement in multiple sexual relations;
transactional sex and early sexual debut as risky sexual behaviours among out-of-school adolescents. In terms of socio-economic factors for out-of-school
adolescent engagement in risky sexual behaviours, respondents mentioned
poverty at home and lack of basic necessities as key factors increasing
vulnerability to engage in risky sexual behaviours. Peer influence to engage in
risky sexual behaviours ranged from misleading influence from friends, desire
to please friends, peer pressure and bad company; which all in different ways
mounted pressure to engage in different risky behaviours.
Study findings confirmed the existence of risky sexual
behaviours among out-of-school adolescents (including early sexual debut,
multiple sexual partners and sex with older sexual partners). Out-of-school
adolescent engagement in risky sexual behaviours is strongly influenced by
their close associate peers and friends; coupled with the prevailing
circumstances at the time of exposure.
Description
Keywords
Peer influences, Risky sexual behaviours, Early sexual debut, Adolescents