Substance use and premarital sex among adolescents in Indonesia, Nepal, the Philippines and Thailand

Early initiation of smoking and drinking are well known to have both immediate and long-term adverse health and social consequences (CDC, 1994; Gruber and others, 1996; WHO, 1997). Premarital sex during adolescence is often unprotected against unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections, and as a consequence, often results in adverse social, economic, and health consequences (UNICEF, UNAIDS and WHO, 2002; WHO, 2001). For these reasons, substance use and premarital sex during adolescence are regarded as risk-taking behaviour. Limited studies on substance use and premarital sex also indicate that the prevalence of these risk-taking behaviours among adolescents is increasing in Asian countries (Corraro and others, 2000; Tan, 1994; Issarabhakdi, 2000). In order to formulate and implement effective adolescent health policies and programmes it is essential that the prevalence of adolescent risk-taking behaviousr and the factors associated with them are identified.