Lancet. 2001 Dec 1;358(9296):1843-50.
Sexual behaviour in Britain: early heterosexual experience.
Wellings K, Nanchahal K, Macdowall W, McManus S, Erens B, Mercer
CH, Johnson AM, Copas AJ, Korovessis C, Fenton KA, Field J.
Centre for Sexual Health Research, Department of Public Health
and Policy, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine,
Keppel Street, WC1E 7HT, London, UK. kaye.wellings@lshtm. Ac.uk
Background:
Relatively high rates of teenage conception and
sexually transmitted infection among young people in Britain
have focused attention on early sexual behaviour and its
determinants. We report the results of the second National
Survey of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles (Natsal 2000).
Methods:
We did a probability sample survey between 1999 and
2001, of men and women aged 16-44 years in Britain. Participants
were interviewed using a combination of computer-assisted
face-to-face and self-completion questionnaires, and asked
questions regarding first heterosexual intercourse,
communication about sex, pregnancy, and sexually transmitted
infections (STIs). FINDINGS: We recruited 11161 men and women to
the survey (4762 men, 6399 women). The proportion of those aged
16-19 years at interview reporting first heterosexual
intercourse at younger than 16 years was 30% for men and 26% for
women; median age was 16 years. The proportion of women
reporting first intercourse before 16 years increased up to, but
not after, the mid-1990s. There has been a sustained increase in
condom use and a decline in the proportion of men and women
reporting no contraceptive use at first intercourse with
decreasing age at interview. Among 16-24 year olds, non-use of
contraception increased with declining age at first intercourse;
reported by 18% of men and 22% of women aged 13-14 years at
occurrence. Early age at first intercourse was significantly
associated with pregnancy under 18 years, but not with
occurrence of STIs. Low educational attainment was associated
with motherhood before 18 years, but not abortion.
INTERPRETATION: The increase in the proportion of women
reporting first intercourse before age 16 years does not appear
to have continued throughout the past decade. Only a small
minority of teenagers have unprotected first intercourse, and
early motherhood is more strongly associated with educational
level than with family background. Factors most strongly
associated with risk behaviour and adverse outcomes have
considerable potential for preventive intervention.
