Factores asociados al inicio de vida sexual en adolescentes tardíos de la Unidad Académica de Salud y Bienestar de la Universidad Católica de Cuenca, sede Azogues, 2024

Abstract

Background: the beginning of sexual activity in late adolescence, especially during university years, can have consequences that go beyond unplanned pregnancies. There are also risks associated with the transmission of sexually transmitted diseases, as well as impacts on life plans and the possibility of abandoning college education opportunities.Objective: identify the factors associated with the beginning of sexual life in late adolescents from the Academic Unit of the Catholic University of Cuenca, Azogues campus, 2024.Methods: observational, analytical, cross-sectional study. 371 students who met the inclusion criteria participated. Descriptive statistics were applied, in the association analysis the Chi square test was used, reporting prevalence ratio and confidence interval, if the p value is less than 0.05 it was considered statistical significance. Results: the prevalence of the beginning of sexual life was 74.4%, 92.4% had their first sexual contact between 15 and 19 years of age, 48.9% had between 2 to 5 partners and 43.1% only one. The most used contraceptive method was the condom in 68.8% of cases, 12.7% indicated that they had previous pregnancies. Alcohol consumption (PR: 12.1; 95% CI 5.10-28.59; p: 0.001) and being male (PR: 2.13; 95% CI 1.26-3.62; p: 0.004), the older age of the couple and the dating relationship showed a statistical association. Conclusions: a high prevalence of early onset of active sexual life was found in university students, and it was associated with alcohol consumption and being male, the older age of the couple and the dating relationship