Gender role perceptions and premarital sexual behaviour among young people in Ghana

Charlotte Ofori, University of Ghana
Francis Nii-Amoo Dodoo, Pennsylvania State University and University of Ghana

Studies on gender role perceptions and sexual behaviour are mostly inconclusive and are usually based on developing scales made up of different items. Using data from two towns in Ghana, we argue that different types of gender role perceptions are associated differently with premarital sexual behaviour among young people. Results show that nearly two out of every five adolescents (38.95%) have engaged in premarital sex. Young people with egalitarian work-school related gender role perceptions are less likely to initiate sex and those with moderate reproductive/sexual perceptions are significantly less likely to engage in premarital sex. We found no association between familial attitudes and premarital sex. For males, egalitarian reproductive/sexual gender role perceptions are related to delaying premarital sex whereas females with egalitarian work-school gender role attitudes are less likely to initiate sex. Understanding how different types of gender role attitudes influence premarital sexual behaviour may aid in planning intervention programs.