Male sexual debut in Orissa: context, partners and differentials

Abstract

This article presents results from a comprehensive study of male sexual behaviour in the state of Orissa in eastern India. Qualitative data from in-depth sexual case histories are integrated with survey data among a general population sample of rural and urban men aged 18-35 to describe sexual initiation. Sexual debut is very late in coastal Orissa with large differentials by levels of education. The median age at first sex is 24.5, but extends to as late as 28.3 for men with an education beyond secondary level. Only 27 per cent of men have sex before marriage, despite a pattern of late marriage. Most first sexual encounters are with single women from the neighbourhood; only 2 per cent of men reported a sex worker as their first partner. The article recommends policies for addressing overall reproductive health concerns.

Citation

Collumbien, M.; Braj Das; Nabesh Bohidar. Male sexual debut in Orissa: context, partners and differentials. Asia Pacific Population Journal (2001) 16 (2) 211-224.

Male sexual debut in Orissa: context, partners and differentials

Published 1 January 2001