Male sexual debut in Orissa, India: Context, partners and differentials

First sexual intercourse is a significant event in a man’s life, whether or not it happens within the context of marriage. In the wake of the HIV pandemic, sexual initiation before marriage has become a focus of attention. From an intervention point of view, the proportion of young people who are sexually active, especially before they form stable partnerships, is an important area of concern. Early age at sexual debut and the number of pre-marital partners have been shown to be correlated with risk behaviour later in life (White and others, 2000). Contextual data on sexual partners and circumstances are needed to understand and assess the risk associated with early sexual experiences, and thereby design appropriate policies and programmes.