Sex debut and risky sexual practices among adolescents aged 15-19 years in Kanyama and Chipata communities, Lusaka, Zambia

Abstract

Approximately 16 million girls aged 15 to 19 years, and 2.5 million girls under the age of 16 years give birth each year in developing countries. Moreover, approximately 4% of 15 to 19 year olds in Zambia are HIV-infected. According to international literature, risky sexual practices and engagement in sexual activities before the age of 18 years have been implicated to adolescent pregnancies and HIV infections. There is a dearth of recent data of this kind in Zambia. The last survey on general sexual behaviours among women (i.e., the Zambia Demographic and Health Survey [ZDHS]) was done more than 7 years ago.