Multiple sexual partnership among school-going adolescents in Benin: a population-based study of prevalence and predictors

Abstract

Aim: The study investigated the prevalence and determinants of multiple sexual partnerships among school-going adolescents. Methods: A secondary analysis of data from the 2016 Global School-Based Student Health Survey (GSHS) was conducted to determine the prevalence and determinants of multiple sexual partners among 2496 school-going adolescents aged 13–17 years in Benin. Results: The overall prevalence of multiple sexual partnerships was 26.1% among adolescents. After adjusting for other factors, male sex (AOR = 4.80, 95% CI 3.78–6.09), truancy (AOR = 1.69, 95% CI 1.35–2.12), sedentary lifestyle (AOR = 1.28, 95% CI 1.00–1.62), cigarette smoking (AOR = 3.14, 95% CI 1.95–5.07) and alcohol use (AOR = 1.78, 95% CI 1.44–2.20) were significantly associated with the increased odds of engaging in multiple sexual partnerships. However, younger age (AOR =.37, 95% CI 0.25–0.56), lower grade (AOR =.52, 95% CI 0.42–65), and parental monitoring (AOR = 0.71, 95% CI 0.55–0.91) were significantly associated with lower odds of engaging in multiple sexual partnerships. Conclusions: Risky sexual behaviour interventions should focus on adolescents’ personal, school and psychosocial characteristics using multidisciplinary approaches. These approaches will contribute to achieving Sustainable Development Goals 3, target 3.4 of promoting adolescent mental health and well-being, and Goal 4, target 1 of ensuring equitable education toward effective learning outcomes among Beninese school-going adolescents.