Gender Differentials in Premarital Sexual Behavior among Never Married Young People in Zambia

This article explores gender differentials in factors affecting pre-marital sexual behaviour among adolescents in Zambia. Data used in this article was derived from the 2013 Zambia Demographic Health Survey. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify gender differentials in sexual initiation in relation to other socio-economic variables. Results show that 52 percent of females and 28.1 percent of males have had sex with one partner; 29percent and 21.8 percent of females and males respectively have had sex with two partners while 12 percent and 16 percent of females and males respectively reported having had sex with three or more partners twelve months prior to the survey. Age, wealth status, educational level, reading newspapers, watching television and drinking alcohol were strong predictors of engaging in premarital sex among the female youth. Working females were 1.8 times more likely to report having had premarital sex compared to those not working. Similarly, the female youth who drank alcohol were 3 times more likely to report having had premarital sex compared to those who did not. On the other hand, the male youth who drank alcohol were 3 times more likely to report having had premarital sex compared to those who did not. Based on these findings, it is imperative to state that gender plays an influencing role in determining sexual behaviour between males and females. Findings shows that females initiated sex earlier than males while certain variables only affected one gender comparatively. Results here point to the fact that factors such as wealth status, education level, and alcohol intake are significant contributors affecting sexual initiation among adolescents in Zambia. In view of this finding, future interventions with the aim of contributing to delaying sexual initiation should also take into account socio-economic and demographic factors as well as gender specific influences as core to influencing sexual debut among adolescents in Zambia.