Factors Influencing Time to First Sexual Intercourse among Youths: Evidence from the 2022 Kenya Demographic and Health Survey Data

Abstract

The timing of first sexual intercourse is a critical marker in adolescent development, influencing health, education, and social outcomes. Early sexual debut increases the risk of unintended pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and educational disruption. While several studies in sub-Saharan Africa have explored correlates of early sexual initiation, most rely on cross-sectional designs or localized samples and logistic regression to find out covariates of sex debut, few have applied survival analysis to nationally representative data in Kenya to find out factors influencing time to sex debut. The purpose of this study is to estimate the median age at first sexual intercourse and identify socio-demographic, cultural, and behavioral determinants influencing its timing among Kenyan youths, using the 2022 Kenya Demographic and Health Survey (KDHS).