Background: Previous studies which have examined reproductive health matters or sexual
relationships have reported on the general population, adolescents, commercial sex workers,
minors, university students, young adults, women, teenage mothers and males, but little is
known about such issues among females who were sexually assaulted on their first sexual
encounter. The present study seeks to elucidate information on reproductive health matters
regarding those who were sexually assaulted on their first sexual encounter; and factors
which influence their current method of contraception. Methods: The sample for this
research was 747 women of reproductive age. A descriptive, cross-sectional design was
employed for this study. Multiple logistic regressions were utilized to model the factors which
explain the current contraceptive usage of the sample. Result: Ten in every 100 females of
reproductive age in Jamaica have been raped; and about 15% of the men did not use a
condom. Four variables emerged as the statistically significant predictors of the current
contraceptive usage in this sample: age at first sexual initiation (OR = 1.16, 95% CI = 1.03 –
1.31); frequent church attendees (OR = 0.43, 95% CI = 0.25 – 0.77); number of pregnancies
that resulted in live births (OR = 1.26, 95% CI = 1.05 – 1.52); and shared sanitary conveniences
(OR = 0.55, 95% CI = 0.31 – 1.00). Conclusion: The ordeal which was identified by the
current study is usually committed by close associates and family members, suggesting that
many rapes are under-reported by females and as such, something must be done to address
this silent killer.