Association between Alcohol Consumption and Early Sexual Initiation in Ethiopia: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Abstract

Background: The association between alcohol consumption and early sexual initiation is not studied at a national
level in Ethiopia. Thus, the aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis study focused on examining the association between alcohol consumption and early sexual initiation in Ethiopia.
Methods: Using Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, included studies were retrieved through search engines such as PubMed/MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, CINHAL, HINARI portal, Google Scholar, and institutional repositories. The Joanna Briggs Institute employed a critical
appraisal checklist for observation studies was used. The data were extracted and stored using a Microsoft excel sheet.
Then abstracted data were imported into STATA 14 for analysis. Heterogeneity across the studies was assessed by
the Q and the I2 test. Random-effects model analysis technique was employed to estimate the pooled estimates. The
subgroup analysis was done by region and year of publication. To examine publication bias, a funnel plot and Egger’s
regression test were used.
Results: A total of 10 studies with 5,904 samples were included in this study. The pooled association between alcohol
consumption and early sexual initiation in Ethiopia was found to be 1.61 (95% CI: 1.29–1.92; I2=47.3%; p<0.048).
Conclusion: The current study found a positive association between alcohol consumption and early sexual initiation.
Thus, holistic age-appropriate sexuality education is recommended.
Keywords: Alcohol; Early sex Initiation; Ethiopia