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Table 2 Measurement scales, Internal Consistency (Cronbach alpha) and Item Loadings

From: Predictors of early sexual initiation among a nationally representative sample of Nigerian adolescents

Scale Name

Item content

Item loading

Family planning accessibility (Cronbach alpha = .951)

Daily oral pills are affordable

.792

 

After sex oral pills/emergency contraception are affordable

.787

 

Injectables are affordable

.779

 

IUD/Coil is affordable

.763

 

Daily oral pills are easy to obtain

.762

 

After sex oral pills/emergency contraception are easy to obtain

.735

 

Injectables are easy to obtain

.735

 

IUD/Coil is easy to obtain

.721

Family planning attitudes (Cronbach alpha = .846)

*FP encourages women to be promiscuous

.752

 

*FP encourages young people to be loose

.723

 

*Condoms encourage male infidelity

.695

 

*Use of FP can lead to infertility

.578

 

*FP cause cancer or other diseases

.465

Condom norm (Cronbach alpha = .882)

Relatives support young people using condoms to protect themselves from HIV and STIs if they are sexually active

.886

 

Community leaders support young people using condoms to protect themselves from HIV and STIs if they are sexually active

.848

 

Parents support young people using condoms to protect themselves from HIV and STIs if they are sexually active

.834

 

Friends support young people using condoms to protect themselves from HIV and STIs if they are sexually active

.828

 

Religious leaders support young people using condoms to protect themselves from HIV and STIs if they are sexually active

.802

 

Other young persons support young people using condoms to protect themselves from HIV and STIs if they are sexually active

.802

 

Health workers support young people using condoms to protect themselves from HIV and STIs if they are sexually active

.702

Condom efficacy (Cronbach alpha = .895)

Male condom protect against STI

.928

 

Male condom protect against AIDS

.926

 

Male condom protect against unplanned pregnancy

.832

Condom access (Cronbach alpha = .731)

Male condoms are easy to obtain

.833

 

Male condoms are affordable

.798

 

Know where to buy condom

.749

HIV prevention knowledge (Cronbach alpha = .774

HIV transmission can be prevented by avoiding sex with people who have many sexual partners

.797

 

HIV transmission can be prevented by reducing number of sexual partners

.771

 

HIV transmission can be prevented by avoiding sex with commercial sex workers

.743

 

HIV transmission can be prevented by delaying onset of sexual intercourse

.622

 

HIV transmission can be prevented by staying with one faithful uninfected partner.

.578

 

HIV transmission can be prevented by avoiding the sharing of needles

.576

 

HIV transmission can be prevented by abstaining from sex

.447

 

HIV transmission can be prevented by using condoms every time

.420

Gender attitude (Cronbach alpha = .930)

*Beating wife is justified if she neglects the children

.804

 

*Beating wife is justified if she argues with him

.787

 

*Beating wife is justified if she goes out without telling husband

.778

 

*Beating wife is justified if the food is not ready on time

.748

 

*Beating wife is justified if he feels she is unfaithful

.716

 

*Beating wife is justified if she refuses sex with husband

.664

Sexuality communication (Cronbach alpha = .825

Comfortable to discuss sexual matters with father

.755

 

Comfortable to discuss sexual matters with mother

.741

 

Comfortable to discuss sexual matters with brother

.656

 

Comfortable to discuss sexual matters with sisters

.696

 

Comfortable to discuss sexual matters with teachers

.736

 

Comfortable to discuss sexual matters with religious leaders

.715

  1. *Statements were reversed for scoring