Adolescent Sexting and Risky Sexual Behaviours in Zimbabwe: A Cross-Sectional Study

This study measured the relationship between sexting and risky sexual practices among school-going adolescents (N = 502, 53.8% female). Correlates of sexting to consistent condom use, age at sexual debut, transactional sex, intergenerational sex and multiple sexual partners were calculated. Prevalence of sexting was 13%, with boys twice more likely to have sent a sext compared to girls. Significant associations existed between sexting and sexual intercourse (95% CI 2.57–7.82), multiple lifetime sexual partners (95% CI 2.48–10.746) and intergenerational sex (95% CI 1.06–4.9). Condom use was significantly higher among girls (p < 0.001). Interventions targeting adolescents are likely to have higher impact if they address harmful effects of sexting.