Table 1.
Characteristics of included studies
| Study | Location (year) | Study design | Sampling method | Sample characteristics | HIV-related variables |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Birdthistle [29] | Harare (Highfield area), Zimbabwe (2004) | Cross-sectional | Representative household sampling | n = 863; females only; age range 14 to 20; participation rate = 67% |
Biological testing: HIV status, HSV-2 Self-report: Pregnancy, ever had sex, >1 partner in lifetime, regular partner at time of interview, ever forced to have sex, ever had exchange sex, first sex was forced, first sexual partner 10+ years older, condom not used during first sex |
| Gregson [30] | Manicaland, Zimbabwe (2001-3) | Cross-sectional | Stratified population-based household sampling | n = 1523; males = 31%, females = 69%; age range for males 17 to 18; age range for females 15 to 18; participation rate = 75% |
Biological testing: HIV infection Self-report: History of STI symptoms, pregnancy, ever had sex, currently married, more than one partner in lifetime |
| Kamali [38] | 15 rural villages in Masaka district, Uganda (1989-1993) | Longitudinal | Sample included all consenting residents in the selected villages in 1989-90 | n = 4975; included both males and females but percentages unclear; age range 0 to 15 | Biological testing: HIV-1 infection testing carried out among 4594 participants |
| Kang [31] | Epworth and Chitungwiza (near Harare), Zimbabwe (year not known) | Cross-sectional | Convenience sampling | n = 196; females only; age range 16 to 19; participation rate = 98% |
Biological testing: HIV infection, HSV-2 infection, pregnancy Self-report: History of STIs and pregnancy, ever had vaginal or anal sex, first sex was forced, had first sex because needed food/money/school fees, used contraceptive during first sex, current relationship is sexual, receives basic needs from partner, ever consumed alcohol, more than one partner in lifetime |
| Kissin [32] | St Petersburg, Russia (2006) | Cross-sectional | Systematic venue-based sampling | n = 313; males = 63%, females = 27%; age range 15 to 19; participation rate = 92% |
Biological testing: HIV infection Self-report: Ever had sex, lifetime transactional sex, lifetime anal sex, past-year same-sex partner, past-year number of partners, lifetime STI diagnosis, pregnancy |
| McGrath [37] | Umkhanyakude district, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa (2003-7) | Longitudinal | Representative household sampling | n = 8753; male = 46%, female = 54%; age range 12 to 25 | Self-report: Ever had sex, age at first sex |
| Nyamukapa [33] | 21 rural and urban districts in Zimbabwe (2004) | Cross-sectional | Purposive sampling of districts (on the basis of poverty and education); census enumeration areas selected according to size and geography; households within each enumeration area selected to fulfill quota | n = 4660; male = 51%, female = 49%; age range 12 to 17 years | Self-report: Ever had sex, early sexual intercourse, ever forced to have sex, ever engaged in high-risk sex |
| Operario [34] | All nine provinces in South Africa (2003) | Cross-sectional | National, representative household sampling | n = 11,904; male = 48%, female = 52%; age range 15 to 24; participation rate = 77% |
Biological testing: HIV infection Self-report: STI in past year, pregnancy history, ever had oral sex, ever had vaginal sex, ever had anal sex, >1 sex partner in past year, last sex was unprotected, ever forced to have sex, ever had transactional sex |
| Palermo [35] | Benin (2006), Chad (2005), Congo (2005), Cote d'Ivoire (2005), Lesotho (2004), Malawi (2004), Mozambique (2003), Tanzania (2004), Uganda (2006), Zimbabwe (2005-6) | Cross-sectional | National, representative household sampling | Total n = 11,975 [range n = 711 (Cote d'Ivoire), n = 1801 (Benin)]; all females; age range 15 to 17 | Self-report: Ever had sex, pregnancy |
| Thurman [36] | Durban Metro and Mtunzini district, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa (2001) | Cross-sectional | Multi-stage cluster sampling approach; all households within selected census enumeration areas were contacted | n = 1694; male = 47%, female = 53%; age range 14 to 18 years; participation rate = 95% | Self-report: Ever had vaginal sex, relative age difference of current sex partner, more than one partner in past year, ever had transactional sex, condom used during last sex, had first sex at age 13 or under, first sexual partner age 17 or older, first sex was willing, first sex was persuaded, first sex was tricked, first sex was forced, condom used during first sex |