Factors Associated with Sexual Intercourse among Female Teenagers in Ubon Ratchathani Province

Main Article Content

Watcharaporn Kongoun
Somsak Suthutvoravut

Abstract

Background: Sexual intercourse among teenagers has increasingly become a social, economic and health problem. It results in unintended pregnancy, unsafe abortion and sexual transmitted diseases, especially HIV infection. The sexual behaviors among teenagers in Ubon Ratchathani Province may be different from the other provinces and other parts of Thailand.


Objective: To study the rate of and factors associated with sexual intercourse among female teenagers in Ubon Ratchathani Province.


Methods: This cross-sectional survey study aimed to determine factors associated with sexual intercourse among 106 female teenagers aged 15-19 years old in Ubon Ratchathani Province. Data was collected using self-administrated questionnaires.


Results: The results showed that 40.6% of female teenagers have had coitus. The mean age of the first coitus was 17.4 years old. All of their partners were their lovers. Love is the main reason for having first coitus (58.1%) but 9.3% reported that they were forced. Significant factors associated with coitus were age, residence, sexual behavior of close friends, parental marital status and internet communication with strangers. By logistic regression analysis, age and sexual behavior of close friends were the only two factors significantly associated with coitus among teenagers.


Conclusion: The rate of sexual intercourse among female teenagers in Ubon Ratchathani Province was fairly high. Most of the factors associated with sexual intercourse were socioeconomic aspects. Proper source of information about sexual health may help to delay sexual intercourse among female teenagers.


 

Article Details

How to Cite
1.
Kongoun W, Suthutvoravut S. Factors Associated with Sexual Intercourse among Female Teenagers in Ubon Ratchathani Province. Rama Med J [Internet]. 2016 Sep. 30 [cited 2024 Mar. 28];39(3):187-93. Available from: https://he02.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/ramajournal/article/view/80213
Section
Original Articles

References

The National Reproductive Health Survey. The National Statistical Office on random sampling of the nationwide population; 2009.

The United Nations Population Fund Thailand Country Office and the Office of the National Economic and Social Development Board. The State of Thailandûs Population 2013. Motherhood in childhood facing the challenge of adolescent pregnancy. Cited Jun15, 2016. Available from: http://countryoffice.unfpa.org/thailand.

Laksitanon R. Factors associated with sexual relationship among high school female students in Ratchaburi Province (Dissertation). Nakorn Prathom: Mahidol University; 2009.

Bureau of Epidemiology, Ministry of Public Health, Thailand. Report of behavioral surveillance among vocational students in Thailand; 2012.

Cochran WG. Sampling Techniques. 2nd ed New York: John Wiley and Sons; 1963.

Punsang A. Factors associated with sexual relationships among high school female students in Angthong Province (Dissertation). Nakorn Prathom: Mahidol University; 2009.

Martinez G, Copen CE, Abma JC. Teenagers in the United States: Sexual activity, contraceptive use and childbearing, 2006-2010. National Survey of Family Growth. National Center for Health Statistics. Vital Health Stat. 2011;23:1-44.

Petkal A. Factors relating to sexual behaviors among adolescents in the upper south of Thailand (Dissertation). Nakorn Prathom: Mahidol University; 2008.

Youn G. Sexual activities and attitude of adolescent Korean. Arch Sex Behav. 1996;25:629-43.

Boonyathan W. Factors associated with adolescent pregnancy among adolescent primigravida attending antenatal care clinic at Samutsakhon Hospital (Dissertation). Nakorn Prathom: Mahidol University; 2007.

Suwannakeeree W, Numfon N, Tipwareeroom W. Risky sexual behavior of adolescents and youth in educational institutions. Phitsanulok Med J. 2008;16:147-55.