Gender analysis of sexual behaviour of senior high-school students in Skopje, R. Macedonia - cross-sectional study.

UNLABELLED (Full text is available at http://www.manu.edu.mk/prilozi). The aim of the study was to assess the gender influence on the main determinants of sexual behaviour of senior high-school students in Skopje, R. Macedonia (prevalence and age of onset of sexual activity, duration of the relationship before and the contraceptive method used during the first sexual intercourse, and number of lifetime sexual partners). METHODS After ensuring privacy and confidentiality, a cross-sectional study was carried out in Skopje by enrolling 310 high-school students (49.7% males, 49% females, 1.3% unknown) from 5 randomly selected high-schools, from the 4th grade, using a 32-item paper-and-pencil self administered questionnaire. RESULTS The prevalence of sexual activity was higher among boys than girls (when reaching grade 4 of the study 62.7% of the boys and 26.7% of the girls are sexually active) (p < 0.01). In addition, a significant gender difference was found in the following: the mean age of onset of sexual activity is 16 years for boys and 17 years for girls; concerning the duration of the relationship before the first sexual intercourse 33% of the boys and 2.5% of the girls had experienced one-night stand relationship (p < 0.01); and concerning the number of partners, having four or more sexual partners was reported by 29.8% of the boys and 5% of the girls (p < 0.01). Of those sexually non-active, 62.5% of the boys and 15.5% of the girls did not start with sexual activity because they did not have a chance (p < 0.01); 17.9% of the boys and 79.1% of the girls felt unprepared (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION The data indicates substantial gender differences in sexual initiation patterns and sexual conduct. Boys and girls are vulnerable at different times in their development and hence need to be reached with different public health interventions for improving their sexual and reproductive health, adapted to local cultural and gender norms. Key words: Macedonia, high-school students, sexual behaviour, gender.