Is the sexual behaviour of young people in sub-Saharan Africa influenced by their peers? A systematic review

Social Science and Medicine

Volumn 146, Issue , 2015, Pages 62-74

  Fearon, Elizabeth ^a   Wiggins, Richard D ^b   Pettifor, Audrey E ^c   Hargreaves, James R ^a  

^a LONDON SCHOOL OF HYGIENE AND TROPICAL MEDICINE   (United Kingdom)

^b UCL Institute of Education   (United Kingdom)

^c University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill   (United States)

Author keywords

Peer exposure; Sexual behaviour; Social networks; Sub Saharan Africa; Systematic review; Young people

Indexed keywords

DISEASE INCIDENCE; FUTURE PROSPECT; HUMAN IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS; SEXUAL BEHAVIOR; SOCIAL BEHAVIOR; SOCIAL NETWORK; VULNERABILITY; YOUNG POPULATION;

AFRICA SOUTH OF THE SAHARA; AGE; ARTICLE; CONDOM USE; HUMAN; INFECTION RISK; OUTCOME ASSESSMENT; PEER GROUP; PEER PRESSURE; RISK ASSESSMENT; RISK FACTOR; SEXUAL BEHAVIOR; SYSTEMATIC REVIEW; ADOLESCENT; ADOLESCENT BEHAVIOR; FEMALE; HIV INFECTIONS; MALE; SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES; SOCIAL NORM; YOUNG ADULT;

SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA;

ADOLESCENT; ADOLESCENT BEHAVIOR; AFRICA SOUTH OF THE SAHARA; FEMALE; HIV INFECTIONS; HUMANS; MALE; PEER GROUP; SEXUAL BEHAVIOR; SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES; SOCIAL NORMS; YOUNG ADULT;

EID: 84945315574     PISSN: 02779536     EISSN: 18735347     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2015.09.039     Document Type: Article

References (55)

1. Abebe M., Tsion A., Netsanet F. Living with parents and risky sexual behaviors among preparatory school students in Jimma zone, South west Ethiopia. Afr. Health Sci. 2013, 13:498-506.
2. Adedimeji A.A., Heard N.J., Odutolu O., Omololu F.O. Social factors, social support and condom use behavior among young urban slum inhabitants in southwest Nigeria. East Afr. J. Public Health 2008, 5:215-222.
3. Ali M.M., Dwyer D.S. Estimating peer effects in sexual behavior among adolescents. J. Adolesc 2011, 34:183-190.
4. Alloway R., Bebbington P. The buffer theory of social support-a review of the literature. Psychol. Med. 1987, 17:91-108.
5. Anglin R.E., Samaan Z., Walter S.D., McDonald S.D. Vitamin D deficiency and depression in adults: systematic review and meta-analysis. Br. J. Psychiatry 2013, 202:100-107.
6. Balabola S., Awasum D., Quennum-Renaud B. The correlates of safe sex practice amongst Rwandan youth: a positive deviance approach. Afr. J. AIDS Res. 2002, 1:11-21.
7. Barker G. Adolescents, Social Support and Help-seeking Behaviour: An International Literature Review and Programme Consultation with Recommendations for Action: An International Literature Review and Programme Consultation with Recommendations for Action, WHO Discussion Papers on Adolescence 2007, Department of Child and Adolescent Health and Development, World Health Organization.
8. Berndt T.J. Developmental changes in conformity to peers and parents. Dev. Psychol. 1979, 15:608-616.
9. Billy J.O., Udry J.R. The influence of male and female best friends on adolescent sexual behavior. Adolescence 1985, 20:21-32.
10. Bradford Hill A. The environment and disease: association or causation?. Proc. R. Soc. Med. 1965, 58:295-300.
11. Bramoullé Y., Djebbari H., Fortin B. Identification of Peer Effects Through Social Networks 2007, University of Laval Working Paper.
12. Brook D.W., Morojele N.K., Zhang C., Brook J.S. South African adolescents: pathways to risky sexual behavior. Aids Educ. Prev. 2006, 18:259-272.
13. Buhi E.R., Goodson P. Predictors of adolescent sexual behavior and intention: a theory-guided systematic review. J. Adolesc. Health 2007, 40:4-21.
14. Buve A., Lagarde E., Carael M., Rutenberg N., Ferry B., Glynn J.R., et al. Interpreting sexual behaviour data: validity issues in the multicentre study on factors determining the differential spread of HIV in four African cities. AIDS 2001, 15(Suppl. 4):S117-S126.
15. Cherie A., Berhane Y. Oral and anal sex practices among high school youth in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. BMC Public Health 2012, 12.
16. Cialdini R.B., Reno R.R. A focus theory of normative conduct: recycling the concept of norms to reduce littering in public places. J. Personal. Soc. Psychol. 1990, 58:1015-1026.
17. Cowan F.M., Langhaug L.F., Mashungupa G.P., Nyamurera T., Hargrove J., Jaffar S., et al. School based HIV prevention in Zimbabwe: feasibility and acceptability of evaluation trials using biological outcomes. AIDS 2002, 16:1673-1678.
18. Ellen J.M., Dolcini M., Bir N.D., Harper G.W., Watson S., Valente T. Social network centrality and sexual experience among a household sample of urban African American adolescents. Connections 2001, 24:76-81.
19. Gevers A., Jewkes R., Mathews C., Flisher A. 'I think it's about experiencing, like, life': a qualitative exploration of contemporary adolescent intimate relationships in South Africa. Cult. Health Sex. 2012, 14:1125-1137.
20. Go M.H., Green H.D., Kennedy D.P., Pollard M., Tucker J.S. Peer influence and selection effects on adolescent smoking. Drug Alcohol Depend. 2010, 109:239-242.
21. Gregson S., Nyamukapa C.A., Garnett G.P., Mason P.R., Zhuwau T., Carael M., et al. Sexual mixing patterns and sex-differentials in teenage exposure to HIV infection in rural Zimbabwe. Lancet 2002, 359:1896-1903.
22. Harrison A. Hidden love: sexual ideologies and relationship ideals among rural South African adolescents in the context of HIV/AIDS. Cult. Health Sex. 2008, 10:175-189.
23. Harrison A., Smit J., Hoffman S., Nzama T., Leu C.-S., Mantell J., et al. Gender, peer and partner influences on adolescent HIV risk in rural South Africa. Sex. Health 2012, 9:178-186.
24. Iannotti R.J., Bush P.J. Perceived vs actual friends use of alcohol, cigarettes, marijuana, and cocaine - which has the most influence. J. Youth Adolesc. 1992, 21:375-389.
25. Kabiru C.W., Beguy D., Undie C.-C., Zulu E.M., Ezeh A.C. Transition into first sex among adolescents in slum and non-slum communities in Nairobi, Kenya. J. Youth Stud. 2010, 13:453-471.
26. Kakoko D.C. Reported heterosexual intercourse and related behaviours among primary school pupils in Kinondoni district, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Cult. Health Sex. 2013, 15:235-245.
27. Kawai K., Kaaya S.F., Kajula L., Mbwambo J., Kilonzo G.P., Fawzi W.W. Parents' and teachers' communication about HIV and sex in relation to the timing of sexual initiation among young adolescents in Tanzania. Scand. J. Public Health 2008, 36:879-888.
28. Kelly R.J., Gray R.H., Sewankambo N.K., Serwadda D., Wabwire-Mangen F., Lutalo T., et al. Age differences in sexual partners and risk of HIV-1 infection in rural Uganda. J. Acquir. Immune Defic. Syndr. 2003, 32:446-451.
29. Lam D., Marteleto L.J., Ranchhod V. The influence of older classmates on adolescent sexual behavior in Cape Town, South Africa. Stud. Fam. Plan. 2013, 44:147-167.
30. MacPhail C., Campbell C. 'I think condoms are good but, aai, I hate those things': condom use among adolescents and young people in a Southern African township. Soc. Sci. Med. 2001, 52:1613-1627.
31. Manski C.F. Identification of endogenous social effects: the reflection problem. Rev. Econ. Stud. 1993, 60:531-542.
32. Markham C.M., Lormand D., Gloppen K.M., Peskin M.F., Flores B., Low B., et al. Connectedness as a predictor of sexual and reproductive health outcomes for youth. J. Adolesc. Health 2010, 46:S23-S41.
33. Maticka-Tyndale E., Barnett J.P. Peer-led interventions to reduce HIV risk of youth: a review. Eval. Progr. Plan. 2010, 33:98-112.
34. McQuestion M., Ahiadeke C., Posner J., Williams T. Psychosocial processes and sexual initiation among Ghanaian youth. Health Educ. Behav. 2012, 39:268-275.
35. Medley A., Kennedy C., O'Reilly K., Sweat M. Effectiveness of peer education interventions for HIV prevention in developing countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis. AIDS Educ. Prev. 2009, 21:181-206.
36. Mercken L., Steglich C., Sinclair P., Holliday J., Moore L. A longitudinal social network analysis of peer influence, peer selection, and smoking behavior among adolescents in British schools. Health Psychol. 2012, 31:450-459.
37. Mkandawire P., Tenkorang E., Luginaah I.N. Orphan status and time to first sex among adolescents in Northern Malawi. AIDS Behav 2013, 17:939-950.
38. Moher D., Liberati A., Tetzlaff J., Altman D.G. Preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses: the PRISMA statement. J. Clin. Epidemiol. 2009, 62:1006-1012.
39. Moody J. Network Structure and Diffusion 2009, Duke Population Research Institute Online Working Papers Series.
40. Negeri E.L. Assessment of risky sexual behaviors and risk perception among youths in Western Ethiopia: the influences of family and peers: a comparative cross-sectional study. BMC Public Health 2014, 14:301.
41. Peltzer K. Early sexual debut and associated factors among in-school adolescents in eight African countries. Acta Paediatr. 2010, 99:1242-1247.
42. Pettifor A.E., Rees H.V., Kleinschmidt I., Steffenson A.E., MacPhail C., Hlongwa-Madikizela L., et al. Young people's sexual health in South Africa: HIV prevalence and sexual behaviors from a nationally representative household survey. AIDS 2005, 19:1525-1534.
43. Prinstein M.J., Meade C.S., Cohen G.L. Adolescent oral sex, peer popularity, and perceptions of best friends' sexual behavior. J. Pediatr. Psychol. 2003, 28:243-249.
44. Rudatsikira E., Ogwell A.E.O., Siziya S., Muula A.S. Prevalence of sexual intercourse among school-going adolescents in Coast Province, Kenya. Tanzan. Health Res. Bull. 2007, 9:159-163.
45. Selikow T.-A., Ahmed N., Flisher A.J., Mathews C., Mukoma W. I am not "umqwayito": a qualitative study of peer pressure and sexual risk behaviour among young adolescents in Cape Town, South Africa. Scand. J. Public Health 2009, 37:107-112.
46. Sieving R.E., Eisenberg M.E., Pettingell S., Skay C. Friends' influence on adolescents' first sexual intercourse. Perspect. Sex. Reprod. Health 2006, 38:13-19.
47. Siziya S., Muula A.S., Kazembe L.N., Rudatsikira E. Harmful lifestyles' clustering among sexually active in-school adolescents in Zambia. BMC Pediatr. 2008, 8:6.
48. Steinberg L., Monahan K.C. Age differences in resistance to peer influence. Dev. Psychol. 2007, 43:1531-1543.
49. Stöckl H., Kalra N., Jacobi J., Watts C. Is early sexual debut a risk factor for HIV infection among women in sub-Saharan Africa? A systematic review. Am. J. Reprod. Immunol 2013, 69(Suppl. 1):27-40.
50. UNAIDS The Gap Report 2014, UNAIDS, Geneva.
51. Valente T.W. Network Models of the Diffusion of Innovations 1995, Hampton Press.
52. Victora C.G., Huttly S.R., Fuchs S.C., Olinto M.T. The role of conceptual frameworks in epidemiological analysis: a hierarchical approach. Int. J. Epidemiol. 1997, 26:224-227.
53. Wand H., Ramjee G. The relationship between age of coital debut and HIV seroprevalence among women in Durban, South Africa: a cohort study. BMJ Open 2012, 2:e000285.
54. Wells, G.A., Shea, B., O'Connell, D., Peterson, J., Welch, V., Losos, M., et al. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) for assessing the quality if nonrandomized studies in meta-analyses, Available from [accessed 14.10.15.]. http://www.ohri.ca/programs/clinical_epidemiology/oxford.asp.
55. Wild L.G., Flisher A.J., Bhana A., Lombard C. Associations among adolescent risk behaviours and self-esteem in six domains. J. Child Psychol. Psychiatry 2004, 45:1454-1467.