Risky sexual behavior and associated factors among high school adolescents in Arbaminch town, Southern Ethiopia, 2014

Abstract

Background: The two most serious consequences of unprotected sexual activity, pregnancy and STIs, come at a great cost to adolescents, their families, and society. Adolescents engaged in risky sexual behaviors that may expose them to risk of contracting sexual transmitted diseases factors have been identified that affect one or more sexual behaviors (the initiation of sex, frequency of sex, number of sexual partners, use of condoms, and use of other contraceptives and the main factors for unprotected sex or risky sexual behavior may be result of peer pressure, curiosity, or lack of knowledge, occur in a broader context.. However, little has been explored about the magnitude of sexual behavior and associated factors in the context of high school students. Objectives: To estimate the prevalence of sexual behavior among adolescents and identify its associated factors among high school students in Arbaminch town, Southern, Ethiopia. Methods and materials: Institution based cross sectional study was conducted in Arbaminch town. From March 15 to 30 1, 2014, on a sample of 494 of high school adolescents 13-19 years of age. The calculate sample was allocated proportionally to each grades. Then study participants were selected from all section by simple random sampling method. A pretested and structured self-administered questionnaire was used. Data was entered in to EPI_data version 3.1 and exported to SPSS for windows version 20.0 for analysis. Result: The overall risky sexual behaviorof participants was found to be 26.8 % (35.6% for males and 191% for females). The mean age of sexual initiation was (15.7 ±1.6) years for both sex. Media factor, pornographies, adolescent- friend sexual discussions, peer pressure, substance use and self-efficacy were associated with sexual behavior of adolescents. Conclusions and recommendation: the prevalence of risky sexual behavior such as having multiple sexual partner, sexual practice without condom and sex under influence of substance use was high. Age, substance use, place of residence, friend-adolescent communication, peer pressure, substance use, the sexual status of peer and the exposure to pornography movies are associated with risky sexual behavior. In order to protect high school adolescents from risky sexual behaviors, schools should focus on promoting peer educators and way of peer discussion especially during early adolescents' age group.