The interactive effect of gender, residence, and socioeconomic status on early sexual debut among sexually active young adults in Ghana

Aim The objective of this study was to examine the interactive effect of gender, rural–urban residence, and socioeconomic status on early sexual debut among young adults in Ghana. Methods The study used the 2014 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey with a sample of 2746 sexually active youth (males = 670 and females = 2076) aged 15–24. We used multivariate logistic regression to analyse the data. Results Our results showed that female youth in urban areas and those from the wealthiest households were less likely to initiate early sexual debut. Additionally, youth resident in urban areas from rich households are less likely to initiate early debut. However, a 3-way interactive effective revealed that female youth resident in urban areas from rich households were found to be more likely to initiate early debut. Conclusion Our findings underscores that gender-based sexual and reproductive health interventions and programmes may be more appropriate for adolescent females in rich households living in urban areas. These intervention should reach these teenagers before they start engaging in sexual intercourse.