%0 Journal Article
%T Tasting the Forbidden Fruit: The Social Context of Debut Sexual Encounters among Young Persons in a Rural Nigerian Community
%A Chimaraoke Otutubikey Izugbara
%J African Journal of Reproductive Health
%D 2001
%I Women's Health and Action Research Centre (WHARC)
%X What circumstances surround the initial sexual encounters of young persons? And what are their implications for adolescent sexual and reproductive health status? These questions, although rarely raised in reproductive health discourse, appear to be critical in broadening the systematic understanding of key issues that impose themselves on adolescent sexual and reproductive health. Against this background, the present study attempts to use the circumstances surrounding the debut sexual encounters of young persons in a rural Nigerian community as an entry point to understanding their vulnerability to sexual and reproductive health problems. Data for the study were gathered using in-depth interviews of 180 persons aged 11-25 years. Emerging evidence shows that first sexual encounter took place under conditions that exposed young people to infections, disability, and even death. The study recommends that there is need to build on the clear evidence that good sex and reproductive health education for young persons delay the onset of sexual activity and makes it safer when it eventually commences. (Afr J Reprod Health 2001; 5[2]:22-29) R¨¦SUM¨¦ D¨¦gustation du fruit d¨¦fendu: Contexte social des rencontres sexuelles initiales chez les jeunes gens dans une communaut¨¦ rurale nig¨¦riane. Quelles sont les circonstances qui entourent les rencontres sexuelles initiales des jeunes gens? Et quelles sont leurs implications par rapport au statut de la sant¨¦ reproductive et sexuelle de l'adolescent? Bien que ces questions soient rarement pos¨¦es dans les discours concernant la sant¨¦ reproductive, elles semblent ¨ºtre cruciales pour l'¨¦largissement de la compr¨¦hension syst¨¦matique des problem¨¨s cl¨¦ qui s'imposent ¨¤ la sant¨¦ reproductive et sexuelle de l'adolescent. Vu dans ce contexte, la pr¨¦sente ¨¦tude essaie de se servir des circonstances qui entourent les rencontres sexuelles initiales des jeunes gens dans une communaut¨¦ nig¨¦riane rurale comme point d'entr¨¦e ¨¤ fin de comprendre leur vuln¨¦rabilit¨¦ aux probl¨¨mes de la sant¨¦ sexuelle et reproductive. Les donn¨¦es de l'¨¦tude ont ¨¦t¨¦ collect¨¦es ¨¤ l'aide des interviews en profondeur men¨¦es aupr¨¨s des 180 personnes ag¨¦es de 11-25 ans. L'¨¦vidence qui en ressort montre que la rencontre sexuelle initiale a eu lieu sous des conditions qui ont expos¨¦ les jeunes gens aux infections, ¨¤ l'incapacit¨¦ et m¨ºme ¨¤ la mort. L'¨¦tude pr¨¦conise la n¨¦cessit¨¦ de se fonder sur l'¨¦vidence qu'un bon renseignement sur la sant¨¦ sexuelle et reproductive destin¨¦ aux jeunes gens retarde le d¨¦but de l'activit¨¦ sexuelle et la rend sans danger quand ¨¦ventuellement cela commence. (Rev Afr Sant¨¦ Reprod 2001; 5[2]:22-29) KEY WORDS: Adolescent sexuality, reproductive health, initial sexual encounters, vulnerability
%U http://www.ajol.info/index.php/ajrh/article/view/7677