TABLE OF CONTENTS
ABSTRACT.........................................................................................................................ii
COPY RIGHTS................................................................................................................. iii
APPROVAL FORM ..........................................................................................................iv
DECLARATION.................................................................................................................v
DEDICATION....................................................................................................................vi
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT................................................................................................vii
LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS ........................................................................................ viii
DEFINITIONS OF KEY TERMS....................................................................................ix
TABLE OF CONTENTS....................................................................................................x
LIST OF TABLES ...........................................................................................................xiv
LIST OF FIGURES ..........................................................................................................xv
CHAPTER ONE .................................................................................................................1
1.1 1ntroduction ..................................................................................................................1
1.2 Background....................................................................................................................1
1.3 Problem Statement........................................................................................................3
1.4 Purpose of the study......................................................................................................3
1. 5 Specific objectives.........................................................................................................3
1.6 Research questions........................................................................................................4
1.7 Justification of the study...............................................................................................4
CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW..................................................................5
2.0 Introduction...................................................................................................................5
xi
2.1 Knowledge of adolescents on early sex initiation .......................................................5
2.2 Socio-cultural factors influencing early initiation of sex...........................................6
2.3 Economic factors that influence early initiation of sex..............................................8
CHAPTER THREE: METHODOLOGY.......................................................................10
3.0 Introduction.................................................................................................................10
3.1 Study Design and Rationale .......................................................................................10
3.2 Study Setting and Rationale..................................................................................10
3.3 Study Population.........................................................................................................10
3.3.1 Sample Size Determination ....................................................................................................11
3.3.2 Sampling Procedure................................................................................................................11
3.3.3 Inclusion Criteria ....................................................................................................................12
3.3.4 Exclusion criteria ....................................................................................................................12
3.4 Definition of Variables................................................................................................12
3.5 Research Instruments.................................................................................................12
3.6 Data Collection Procedures........................................................................................12
3.6.1 Data Management...................................................................................................................13
3.6.2 Data Analysis..........................................................................................................................13
3.7 Ethical Considerations................................................................................................13
3.8 Limitation of the Study...............................................................................................14
3.9 Dissemination of Results.............................................................................................14
CHAPTER FOUR: RESULTS ........................................................................................15
4.0 Introduction.................................................................................................................15
4.1 Demographic Characteristics of the Respondents n=50........................................15
xii
4.2 Knowledge of adolescents on early sex initiation .....................................................18
4.2.3 Whether the respondents used any contraception during the sexual encounter......................19
4.3 Socio –cultural factors that influence early initiation of sex n = 50 .....................20
4.4 Economic Factors that influence early initiation of sex n = 50 .............................22
CHAPTER FIVE: DISCUSSION, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS .24
5.0 Introduction.................................................................................................................24
5.1 Discussion.....................................................................................................................24
5.1.1 Knowledge of adolescents on factors that influence early initiation of sex............................24
5.1.2 Socio – cultural factors that influence early initiation of sex .................................................26
5.1.3 Economic factors that influence early initiation of sex ..........................................................27
5.2 Conclusion....................................................................................................................29
5.3 Recommendations.......................................................................................................29
5.4 Implications to Nursing Practice ...............................................................................29
REFERENCES..................................................................................................................31
APPENDIX 1: CONSENT FORM ..................................................................................36
APPENDIX 2:QUESTIONNAIRE..................................................................................37
APPENDIX 3: INTRODUCTORY LETTER ................................................................48
ABSTRACT This study was conducted at Shuuku HC IV adolescent clinic to assess the factors influencing early initiation of sex among adolescents aged 16 – 19.Twenty-five percent of Uganda’s population is comprised of adolescents and a 25 percent pregnancy rate among adolescents in a population of over 40 million people implies that a quarter of the adolescents are engaging in sex at an early age and is therefore a worrying issue for the government of Uganda. The study sought to address the following objectives; to describe knowledge of adolescents on early initiation of sex, to identify the social-cultural factors and to assess economic factors influencing early initiation of sex among adolescents aged 16 – 19 years. The study used a descriptive research design with both qualitative and quantitative methods. A sample of 50 respondents was sampled using questionnaires. The data was collected and analyzed using Microsoft excel, and then presented using tables and figures. The study found that knowledge of adolescents had little influence on the early initiation of sex among adolescents aged 16 – 19 years while both the socio –cultural and economic factors were found to have a strong influence on the early initiation of sex among adolescents aged 16 – 19 years. The study concluded that early initiation of sex among adolescents aged 16 – 19 years was influenced negatively by socio-cultural factors including religion, place of residence; economic factors including guardian’s economic status and to a less extent knowledge of adolescents. The study recommends sensitization of adolescents about the dangers of early initiation of sex to various stakeholders.