Prevalence of sexual intercourse and risk factors among adolescents in schools in Guinea

Background: Adolescent sexual intercourse in schools is a common phenomenon. Aim: This study analysed the prevalence and contributing factors of sexual intercourse among adolescents attending school in Guinea. Setting: This study was conducted in Guinea (Conakry). Methods: This was an analysis of the secondary data from a survey of adolescents in secondary schools in Guinea. A sex-stratified logistic regression analysis was performed. Adjusted odds ratios (AORs) and its 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were reported. The significance level was set at 0.05. Results: The overall prevalence of sexual intercourse among adolescents of school-age in Guinea was 35.2%. The sexual intercourse prevalence rate was 42.4% (95% CI: 40.4–44.4) among boys and 32.7% (95% CI: 31.6–33.9) among girls. High school (girls AOR: 1.64; 95% CI: 1.43–1.88 and boys AOR: 1.35; 95% CI: 1.07–1.69), Christian and other (boys AOR: 1.58; 95% CI: 1.22–2.06 and girls AOR: 1.49; 95% CI: 1.27–1.73), having a partner (boys AOR: 7.03; 95% CI: 5.61–6.80 and girls AOR: 6.29; 95% CI: 5.44–7.28), knowledge of family planning (boys AOR: 2.25; 95% CI: 1.83–2.75 and girls AOR: 1.67; 95% CI: 1.47–1.89) and age (boys AOR: 1.50; 95% CI: 1.38–1.63 and girls AOR: 1.74; 95% CI: 1.65–1.84) were the most important contributing factors of sexual intercourse. Conclusion: Future programmes targeting adolescents should include public health interventions that address these factors related to sexual intercourse to reduce early sexuality in schools. Contributions: This study will help policymakers make decisions about reducing sexual intercourse among school-attending adolescents.