Sexually Assaulted Females On Their Sexual Debut: Reproductive Health Matters

摘要

Background: Previous studies which have examined reproductive health matters or sexual relationships have reported on the general population, adolescents, commercial sex workers, minors, university students, young adults, women, teenage mothers and males, but little is known about such issues among females who were sexually assaulted on their first sexual encounter. The present study seeks to elucidate information on reproductive health matters regarding those who were sexually assaulted on their first sexual encounter; and factors which influence their current method of contraception. Methods: The sample for this research was 747 women of reproductive age. A descriptive, cross-sectional design was employed for this study. Multiple logistic regressions were utilized to model the factors which explain the current contraceptive usage of the sample. Result: Ten in every 100 females of reproductive age in Jamaica have been raped; and about 15% of the men did not use a condom. Four variables emerged as the statistically significant predictors of the current contraceptive usage in this sample: age at first sexual initiation (OR = 1.16, 95% CI = 1.03 ? 1.31); frequent church attendees (OR = 0.43, 95% CI = 0.25 ? 0.77); number of pregnancies that resulted in live births (OR = 1.26, 95% CI = 1.05 ? 1.52); and shared sanitary conveniences (OR = 0.55, 95% CI = 0.31 ? 1.00). Conclusion: The ordeal which was identified by the current study is usually committed by close associates and family members, suggesting that many rapes are under-reported by females and as such, something must be done to address this silent killer.