Coerced First Intercourse and Reproductive Health Among Adolescent Women in Rakai, Uganda

Bibliographic Data

ID23360809
AuthorsMichael A Koenig, Michael Koenig (Johns Hopkins University), Iryna Zablotska (0000-0003-1456-2197, Johns Hopkins University), Tom Lutalo (0000-0003-3380-1720, Johns Hopkins University), Fred Nalugoda (0000-0001-6119-9293, Johns Hopkins University), Jennifer Wagman, Jennifer A Wagman (0000-0002-9957-1932, Johns Hopkins University), Ron Gray (Johns Hopkins University)
Year2004
Volume30
Issue04
Pages156-163
Publication date2004-12-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueInternational Family Planning Perspectives (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0190-3187 • E-ISSN: 1943-4154
PublisherGuttmacher Institute (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1363/3015604
PMID15590381
OpenAlexW2072451967
LanguageEN
Citations received71
References cited35

CONTEXT: Although there is increasing recognition of the scope and significance of sexual coercion experienced by adolescent women in developing countries, evidence on its consequences for reproductive health remains limited. METHODS: A sample of 575 sexually experienced 15-19-year-old women were interviewed in 2001-2002 as part of the ongoing Rakai surveillance project in rural Uganda. Chi-square tests and logistic regressions were used to investigate associations between coerced first intercourse and selected reproductive health behaviors and outcomes. RESULTS: Fourteen percent of young women reported that their first sexual intercourse had been coerced. After the effects of respondents' demographic characteristics were accounted for, young women who reported coerced first intercourse were significantly less likely than those who did not to be currently using modern contraceptives, to have used condoms at last intercourse and to have used them consistently during the preceding six months; they were more likely to report their current or most recent pregnancy as unintended (among ever-pregnant women) and to report one or more genital tract symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Coerced first intercourse is an important social and public health problem that has potentially serious repercussions for young women's reproductive health and well-being. Interventions to improve adolescent women's reproductive health should directly address the issue of sexual coercion.

Developing country · Environmental health · Family planning · Logistic regression · Poison control · Population · Pregnancy · Psychiatry · Psychological intervention · Public health · Reproductive health · Research methodology · Sexual coercion · Sexual intercourse · Suicide prevention · Unintended pregnancy · Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health · Demography · Global Maternal and Child Health · Intimate Partner and Family Violence · Medicine