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ObjectiveTo explore the correlation between age at menarche and age at first sexual behaviors among unmarried women in Anhui province. MethodsFrom the participants of a cohort study (Reproductive Health of Couples of Childbearing Age – Anhui Cohort) conducted during April 2019 – June 2021 in 16 districts of Anhui province, we recruited 28 899 women (aged 18 – 49 years) taking premarital examination for their first marriage. Relevant information of the unmarried women were collected with an on-site self-administered questionnaire survey under the help of interviewers. Chi-square test and multivariate logistic regression model were adopted to explore the correlation between age at menarche and age at first sexual behaviors. ResultsEarlier menarche (at ages of ≤ 12 years) and later menarche (at ages of ≥ 15 years) were reported by 37.2% and 14.0% of the unmarried women. The reported proportions of the women having their first sex at ages ≤ 14, 15 – 17, 18 – 20, and ≥ 21 years were 0.2%, 4.5%, 26.8%, and 68.4%, respectively. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that, after adjusting for potential confounding factors, the women with earlier age at menarche were more likely to have first sexual behavior at ages of ≤ 14 (odd ratio [OR] = 2.721, 95% confidence interval [95% CI]: 1.626 – 4.533), 15 – 17 (OR = 1.645, 95% CI = 1.456 – 1.860), and 18 – 20 (OR = 1.155, 95% CI: 1.088 – 1.227) compared to the women with normal age at menarche; while, the women with later age at menarche were less likely to have first sexual behavior at ages of ≤ 14 (OR = 0.230, 95% CI: 0.054 – 0.979), 15 – 17 (OR = 0.573, 95% CI: 0.465 – 0.707), and 18 – 20 (OR = 0.812, 95% CI: 0.745 – 0.885) compared to the women with normal age at menarche, respectively. ConclusionThe age at menarche is significantly associated with the age at first sexual behavior among unmarried women in Anhui province. |
