Prevalence of Sexual Intention and its Associated Factors Among Youths in Samarahan District, Sarawak
Article Sidebar
Main Article Content
Abstract
Sexual intention is an important predictor of sexual behaviour and sexual risk-taking among youths. Understanding the determinants of sexual intention is essential for developing effective sexual and reproductive health interventions. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of sexual intention and its associated factors among youths in Samarahan District, Sarawak. A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 302 youths aged 18–24 years in Samarahan District, Sarawak. Data were collected using structured self-administered questionnaires based on the Theory of Planned Behaviour framework. Variables assessed included socio-demographic characteristics, youth attitudes, perceived social norms, selfefficacy, internet pornography usage, sexual intention, and sexual risk behaviour. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, chisquare tests, and correlation analysis. The mean age of respondents was 21.31 years (SD = 1.80). Sexual activity prevalence among respondents was 6.3%. Ethnicity and religion were significantly associated with sexual intention, whereby Malay and Muslim youths were less likely to report sexual intention. Youths with more permissive attitudes and higher self-efficacy scores were more likely to report sexual intention. Internet pornography usage was significantly associated with sexual intention. Sexual intention was also significantly associated with sexual risk behaviour. Sexual intention among youths in Samarahan District was significantly associated with sociodemographic and psychosocial factors, particularly permissive attitudes, religion, ethnicity, and internet pornography usage. The findings highlight the importance of culturally sensitive and comprehensive sexual health programmes that address behavioural attitudes, digital media exposure, and safe sexual practices among youths.
Downloads
Article Details
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
How to Cite
References
Abdul, H., S H., Fallon, D., & Callery, P. (2020). Influence of religion on healthcare professionals’ beliefs toward teenage sexual practices in Malaysia. Makara Journal of Health Research, 24(1), 27-34. https://doi.org/10.7454/msk.v24i1.1175
Ajzen, I. (1991). The theory of planned behaviour. Organisational Behaviour and Human Decision Processes, 50(2), 179-211.
https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/0749-5978(91)90020-T
Blum, R. W., Mmari, K., & Moreau, C. (2017). It Begins at 10: How Gender Expectations Shape Early Adolescence Around the World. J Adolesc Health, 61(4 Suppl), S3-s4. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2017.07.009
Bonnie, R. J., Backes, E. P., Alegria, M., Diaz, A., & Brindis, C. D. (2019). Fulfilling the Promise of Adolescence: Realising Opportunity for All Youth. J Adolesc Health, 65(4), 440-442. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2019.07.018
Cheah, Y. K., Zainuddin, N. H., Kee, C. C., Lim, K. H., Omar, M. A., & Cheong, Y. L. (2023). Lifestyles and Sexual Behaviour Among School-Going Adolescents: A Mediational Role of Mental Health. Clin Child Psychol Psychiatry, 28(4), 1341-1357.
https://doi.org/10.1177/13591045221142497
Faiza, A., Samsul, D., hanim, a. a. k., Nurul, Z., & Azimah, M. N. (2020). Predicting Sexual Intention to Engage In Premarital Sex among Late Adolescents in Kuantan Government Secondary Schools: An Application Of The Theory Of Planned Behaviour. IIUM Medical Journal Malaysia, 17. https://doi.org/10.31436/imjm.v17i1.892
Guan, N. C., Isa, S. M., Hashim, A. H., Pillai, S. K., & Harbajan Singh, M. K. (2015). Validity of the Malay version of the Internet Addiction Test: a study on a group of medical students in Malaysia. Asia Pac J Public Health, 27(2), Np2210-2219.
https://doi.org/10.1177/1010539512447808
Hazariah, A. H. S., Fallon, D., & Callery, P. (2021). An Overview of Adolescents' Sexual and Reproductive Health Services Provision in Malaysia. Comprehensive Child and Adolescent Nursing, 44(2), 144-160. https://doi.org/10.1080/24694193.2020.1756983
Idris, I. B., Bin Sulaiman, S. K., Hod, R., Khazaei, H., & Abdullah, N. N. (2022). A Qualitative Study to Explore the Determinants of Risky Sexual Behaviours and Pregnancy among Female Adolescents in Sabah, Malaysia. Obstet Gynecol Int, 2022, 1866326. https://doi.org/10.1155/2022/1866326
Institute for Public Health. (2022). National Health and Morbidity Survey 2022: Adolescent Health Survey Malaysia. M. o. H. Malaysia. https://iku.gov.my/images/nhms-2022/Report_Malaysia_nhms_ahs_2022.pdf
Lin, W. H., Liu, C. H., & Yi, C. C. (2020). Exposure to sexually explicit media in early adolescence is related to risky sexual behaviour in emerging adulthood. PLoS One, 15(4), e0230242. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0230242
Muhammad., Azimah., N., Shamsuddin Khadijah, Rahmah., M. A., Khairani., O., & Ramayah., T. (2017). Questionnaire development and validity to measure sexual intention among youth in Malaysia. BMC Public Health, 17(1), 157. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-016-3949-1
Naing. L, R, N., HA, R., & YT, N. (2022). Sample size calculation for prevalence studies using Scalex and ScalaR calculators. BMC Medical Research Methodology, 22(1), 1-8.
Nor Asiah, M., Fatin Norhasny L., Nor Soleha M.D., Chun Lai T., M. Z. J., Mohammed Faizal B., Rimah Melati A.G., Maznieda M., R. S., Nurul Syarbani Eliana M., Mohd Idris O., K. Y. L., Norzam Azihan M.H., Wei Hong L., S Asmaliza I, & Nai Ming L. (2021). Health Research Priorities for the 12th Malaysia Plan 2021-2025. M. o. H. Malaysia.
Pirrone, D., Zondervan-Zwijnenburg, M., Reitz, E., van den Eijnden, R., & Ter Bogt, T. F. M. (2022). Pornography Use Profiles and the Emergence of Sexual Behaviours in Adolescence. Arch Sex Behav, 51(2), 1141-1156. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-021-02140-3
United Nations. (2007). Definition of Youth.
https://www.un.org/esa/socdev/documents/youth/fact-sheets/youth-definition.pdf