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Table 3 Descriptive results

From: Effects of parenting practices on sexual risk-taking among young people in Cameroon

Variables

Males

Females

Total

 

(n = 220)

(n = 227)

(n = 447)

Sexual risk-taking

Sexually active in the last 12 months (% yes)

87.3

83.3

85.2

Multiple partnerships in the last 12 months (% yes)

42.2

15.9

29.1

Consistent use of contraceptive with partners in the last 12 months (% yes)

29.2

30.7

29.9

Used to having concurrent occasional sexual partners (% yes)

41.4

10.6

25.7

Parenting dimensions in young ages(assessment at the time of the survey)

Quality of parent/child relationships (range, 1–4)

2.09(±0.79)

2.11(±0.86)

2.10(±0.83)

Knowledge of out-of-home activities (range, 1–5)

2.29(±1.44)

3.06(±1.48)

2.68(±1.51)

Approval of out-of-home activities (range, 1–5)

3.19(±1.41)

3.05(±1.31)

3.13(±1.36)

Parent–child communication on sexual issues (range, 0–4)

0.88(±0.88)

1.18(±1.47)

1.04(±1.42)

Parenting dimensions during early adolescence (assessment at age 12)

Quality of parent/child relationships (range, 1–4)

1.95(±0.73)

1.99(±0.76)

1.98(±0.75)

Knowledge of out-of-home activities (range, 1–5)

3.72(±1.35)

3.88(±1.23)

3.80(±1.29)

Approval of out-of-home activities (range, 1–5)

3.13(±1.26)

3.09(±1.21)

3.11(±1.23)

Parent–child communication on sexual issues (range, 0–4)

0.30(±0.92)

0.67(±1.26)

0.47(±1.12)

Mediating variable

Early sexual debut (sexual initiation by age 15)

45.0

31.3

38.0

Other variables

Family structure‡

   

Both biological parents

41.8

48.0

44.9

Biological mother only

13.6

16.3

15.0

Biological father only

5.0

7.5

6.3

Other relatives

19.1

18.1

18.6

Uncorrelated residents

20.5

10.1

15.2

Parent/guardian socioeconomic characteristics‡

   

Parent/guardian has at least a primary level of education

68.2

85.0

76.7

Parent/guardian has a paid job

31.8

40.9

36.6

Parent/guardian is married

65.5

75.8

70.7

Respondent’ age

   

15-19

59.6

58.2

58.8

20-24

40.4

41.8

41.2

Currently attending school

   

Yes

49.1

43.2

46.1

No

50.9

56.8

53.9

Religious affiliation

   

Christian

85.5

96.0

90.8

Others

14.5

4.0

9.2

  1. Notes: ‡ At the time of the survey ± Standard deviation.
  2. All scales are scored such that a higher value indicates higher level of the construct.