Sexual behavior and contraceptive use by adolescent pupils in the republic of bophuthatswana

Int Q Community Health Educ. 1988 Jan 1;9(1):73-82. doi: 10.2190/HCDA-E56K-YMBN-10Y9.

Abstract

Cluster sampling was used to identify thirty clusters from which a total random sample of 210 pupils aged thirteen to eighteen were drawn to assess their sexual and contraceptive behavior. The mean age of the sample was 15.2 with a mean age at menarche of 13.8, a mean age at first coital experience of 14.9 and a mean age at commencement of contraception of 15.6. One hundred and seventy-four (82.9%) of the respondents reported general knowledge about contraceptives that was obtained from a variety of sources, 101 (48.1%) reported to be sexually active and thirty-one (14.8%) to be using contraceptives. Although no statistically significant relationship was found between age and contraceptive use, a statistically significant correlation (p < .001) was found between age and age at first coitus.