Risky sexual behavior and associated factors among sexually experienced secondary school students in Guduru, Ethiopia

Buzayehu Fekadu Wakasa; Lemessa Oljira; Melake Demena; Lemma Demissie Regassa; Wakgari Binu Daga

doi:10.1016/j.pmedr.2021.101398

Risky sexual behavior and associated factors among sexually experienced secondary school students in Guduru, Ethiopia

Prev Med Rep. 2021 May 16:23:101398. doi: 10.1016/j.pmedr.2021.101398. eCollection 2021 Sep.

Authors

Buzayehu Fekadu Wakasa¹, Lemessa Oljira², Melake Demena², Lemma Demissie Regassa², Wakgari Binu Daga³

Affiliations

¹ Guduru District Health Office, Horo Guduru Wallaga, Kombosha, Ethiopia.
² School of Public Health, College of Health and Medical Sciences, Haramaya University, P.O.Box 135, Dire Dawa, Ethiopia.
³ School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences and Medicine, Wolaita Sodo University, P.O.BOX 138, Wolaita Sodo, Ethiopia.

Abstract

Adolescents at secondary schools are susceptible to engaging in risky sexual behavior (RSB) due to their teenage stage and the new environment they face. Limited researches in district towns have evaluated the RSB among adolescents with various findings. This study aimed to assess the RSB and associated factors among sexually experienced secondary school students. School-based cross-sectional study was conducted in Guduru district from March 4-8, 2019. A total of 1236 secondary school students were undergoing a survey. The data were collected using a pretested anonymously self-administered questionnaire and students who reported having ever had sex were evaluated for RSB. From all participants, 352 (29.8%) had ever started sexual intercourse from which 240 (68.2%) students were involved in RSB. During the multivariable logistic regression analysis, sex (AOR: 3.73; 95%CI: [1.71-8.14]), father educational level (AOR: 0.37; 95%CI: [0.16-0.84]), drinking alcohol (AOR: 2.76; 95%CI: [1.29-5.69]), perceived peer pressure (AOR: 4.22; 95%CI: [1.59, 11.24]), communication with parents (AOR: 9.58, 95%CI: [3.53, 25.94]), and perceived parental monitoring (AOR: 0.33; 95%CI: [0.14-79]) were significantly associated with RSB. This study outlined that the majority of sexually active adolescents are involved in RSB. Interventions at the health facility and school level should focus on the identified determinants of sexual behaviors among adolescents to minimize the risky consequences.

Keywords: AOR, adjusted odds ration; ASRH, Adolescent sexual and reproductive health; Adolescents; CI, confidence interval; COR, crude odds ration; CSWs, commercial sex workers; Guduru; Risky sexual behavior; SPSS, Statistical package for social science; Secondary school.