Sexual behaviour of the school-going youth in the city of Likasi, Democratic Republic of Congo

Numerous studies on sexuality conducted in sub-Saharan Africa report an increase in sexual activity among single young people. Adolescent population begins sexual activity earlier, has unstable relationships and multiple partners according to the proximity to the members of their households. This study aims to determine the prevalence of sexually active youth and to evaluate the factors influencing sexual behavior. We conducted an observational descriptive cross-sectional study over the period May -June 2017. The study focused on 249 pupils in a 5th, 6th grade at 4 secondary schools in Likasi (CS Kalunga, CS Terminal, College Tutazamie and Lycée Musofi). Data were entered and encoded using the excel software 2013. Two hundred and forty-nine young people answered the survey (153 girls and 96 boys), 104 of whom were sexually active, with a prevalence of 42%. The average age of first sexual intercourse was 16.7 years for the boys and 17.2 years for the girls; 38% had had their first sexual intercourse between 10 and 15 years, 56% reported having had more than one sexual partner. Media, Internet, the living environment and the standard of living were factors influencing sexual behavior of young people. According to the UNAIDS, AIDS affect increasingly younger subjects; the elimination of this epidemic requires the promotion of healthy and responsible sexual life according to the ABC strategy.