Changing gender gaps in the timing of first union formation and sexual initiation in sub-Saharan Africa.

ABSTRACT: Gender differences in union formation and sexual initiation in sub-Saharan Africa remain poorly documented, in large part due to a scarcity of research on the transition to adulthood among men. We adopt a novel perspective on this topic by examining gender gaps in the ages at first union and sex in 24 countries, focusing on measures of central tendency and dispersion. Gender differences in age at first union decreased, driven by postponement among women with relatively late union formation. Yet, due to concurrent persistence of early unions among a sizable portion of women's populations, within-country heterogeneity in ages at first union increased substantially among women. Thus, although forces responsible for earlier union formation among women than men are weakening, these chang

SUBMITTER: Batyra E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11192500 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature