TITLE:
Sexual Orientation and Associated Factors among Adolescents in Cameroonian Cities—Factors Associated with Sexual Orientation in Adolescents
AUTHORS:
Eboutou Ivan, Nguefack Félicitée, Meguieze Claude-Audrey, Ngassam Tchouamo Cindy Brenda, Dongmo Tsopfack Félicie Cindy, Mboringong Kwedi Fanny, Danwe Danwang Welba, Nseme Etouckey Eric
KEYWORDS:
Sexual Orientation, Practice, Identity, Factors, Teenager, Cameroon
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Pediatrics,
Vol.13 No.6,
October
9,
2023
ABSTRACT: Introduction: Over time, new sexual practices other than the common ones are frequently
described. This work aimed to determine the sexual orientation and its
associated factors among adolescents attending school in two big cities in
Cameroon. Methodology: A cross-sectional study with prospective data
collection took place from November 2021 to April 2022 in eight secondary
schools (four in Yaoundé and four in Douala). We conducted non-probability, consecutive sampling on school-going, sexually active adolescents
between the ages of 14 and 19 years. A self-administered questionnaire to
students was used to study their sexual orientations and practices. Univariate
and multivariate analyses made it possible
to find the associated factors using the chi-square test. Results: We
included 1274 adolescents with an average age of 18 years; majority were boys
(54.8%) for a sex ratio of 1.21. Most (49.7%) were from two-parent families. Cisgender was the most common
self-gender identity (89.6%). The main sexual orientation was heterosexuality
(82.3%), followed by bisexuality (9.7%) and homosexuality (8%). The average age
at first sexual intercourse (coitarche) was 15 years and the coitarche was
consenting in 84.1%. Sexual practices included: kissing (94.7%), fondling
(93.4%), vaginal penetration (80.6%), oral sex (40.4%), masturbation (22.8%),
fisting (18.4%), and anal penetrations
(17.5%). The majority of sexual intercourse acts (55.8%) took place
without protection; 24.6% of adolescents practiced them with a person of the
same sex and 18.4% with several others simultaneously. The factors associated
with heterosexuality were age ≤17 years (aOR: 2.44 [1.36 - 4.40]; p = 0.003), self-identification opposite
to primary sexual characteristics (aOR: 12.05 [5.13 - 28.29]; p 0.001), absence of consent during the first coitus (aOR: 7.09 [3.61 - 13.93]; p 0.001) and a history of sexual intercourse with a person of the same sex (aOR: 94.17 [43.36 - 183.39];
p 0.001). Conclusion: Although most adolescents are heterosexual in the
school environment, the authors raise the importance of providing guidance in
the aspect of sexual orientation particularly on the psychological and behavioral level considering age, self-gender
identity, sexual consent, and using protection during the sexual experience.