Assessment of Sexual Risk Behaviours of In-School Youth: Effect of Living Arrangement of Students; West Gojam Zone, Amhara Regional State, Ethiopia

Abstract

Abstract:Background: Contemporary threats to adolescents' health are primarily the consequence of risk behaviors and their related adverse outcomes. Identifying factors associated with adolescents' risk behaviors is critical for developing effective prevention strategies. A number of risk factors have been identified, including familial environment; however, to the investigator's best knowledge, there have been only one previous study of possible differential vulnerabilities of in-school adolescents to risky sex in reference to parental influences and living arrangements in Ethiopia. Objective: To assess and compare sexual risk behaviours of preparatory students in West Gojam zone, in reference to their living arrangements Methodology: A comparative cross-sectional study was done in ten preparatory schools; West Gojam zone, Amhara National Regional State, Ethiopia. The study participants were selected based on probability proportional to size. A total of 314 students [104 living permanently in the corresponding towns and 210 not], were included in the study. Result: Seventy three (23.2%) respondents had ever had sexual intercourse with an individual of the opposite sex. Disaggregated by sex, 55 (25.0%) of males had had sex compared to 18 (19.4%) of females. Twenty two students (33.3%) reported having had two or more sexual partners in their lifetime (range 1-7, average1.56). In the logistic regression analyses, controlling for observed covariates, age more than 20 years [OR= 2.85; 95%CI= 1.07 to 7.59], having peer pressure to have sex [OR= 4.43; 95%CI= 2.02 to 9.69] and perceived family connectedness [OR= 0.96; 95%CI= 0.92 to 0.99] continued to be significantly and independently associated with sexual activity Conclusion: A greater sense of connectedness to parents decreases the likelihood of sexual activity regardless of living arrangement, Parental monitoring, gender, khat and alcohol consumption, and parental education. Students with peer pressure to have sex are more likely to initiate sexual intercourse.

Disparities in risky sexual behavior among khat chewer and non- chewer college students in Southern Ethiopia: a comparative cross-sectional study

“…This finding was in line with other previous studies [34, 35]. This might be due to the fact that such students were at higher probability of sharing information regarding their day to day life and in a position to conform to peers’ informal rules.…”

“…This was in agreement with findings from previous literatures. The possible explanation could be the fact that as age increases, involving in sexual practice increases due to the social acceptance of sexual intercourse in late age [12, 18, 34]. …”

Living with parents and risky sexual behaviors among preparatory school students in Jimma zone, South west Ethiopia

“…The sample size was determined using single population proportion formula with the following assumption; p= 14% 16 and margin of error 5%. The final sample size was 288 in-school youths living with their parents.…”

“…in Ethiopia indicated that majority of youths are in-schools and living arrangement of high school students are living with friends followed by relatives and both biological parents 15 . For urban students, the most common living arrangements were living with both parents or with one biological parent 5,7,15,16 . Though there are a number of factors affecting the sexual health of in-school youths, Family connectedness and living arrangements seem an important factor affecting the sexual decisions of youths.…”

Sexual health knowledge among secondary school students in Morogoro, Tanzania: half full or full empty?

“…Other studies (Resnick, 1997;Asrat, 2014) are also confirming incidences of secondary school students becoming sexually active at an increasing earlier age.…”