Early patterns of sexual activity: age cohort differences in Australia


Autoria(s): Boyle, Frances M.; Dunne, Michael P.; Purdie, David M.; Najman, Jake M.; Cook, Michele D.
Contribuinte(s)

W. Dinsmore

Data(s)

01/11/2003

Resumo

Patterns of first sexual activity among Australians born between the 1940s and 1980s were analysed using data from a national telephone survey of 1784 adults (876 males; 908 females). Sixty-one percent of those randomly selected from the Australian electoral roll and contactable by telephone responded. Many trends, including earlier first intercourse - from 20 to 18 years (females) and 18.8 to 17.8 years (males) - were established with the 40-49 year cohort, whose sexual debut was in the late 1960s-70s. Significant age-cohort effects saw women in the contemporary (18-29 year) cohort draw level with males for age at first intercourse and first sex before age 16 and before leaving school. First intercourse contraceptive use climbed from 30% to 80'%. Condom use quadrupled to 70%. Australian age-cohort effects are remarkably consistent with those in similar western cultures: gender convergence in sexual experience and increasing avoidance of sexually transmitted disease and pregnancy. If such trends continue, positive long-term outcomes for health and social wellbeing should result.

Identificador

http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:67570

Idioma(s)

eng

Publicador

Royal Society of Medicine Press Ltd

Palavras-Chave #Immunology #Infectious Diseases #Sex Behaviour #Safe Sex #Contraceptive Behaviour #Surveys #Australia #Condom Use #Adolescents #Behavior #Intercourse #Health #Consequences #Trends #Males #C1 #321208 Primary Health Care #730399 Health and support services not elsewhere classified #1103 Clinical Sciences #1117 Public Health and Health Services #11 Medical and Health Sciences
Tipo

Journal Article