The prevalence of risky sexual behaviors among youth center reproductive health clinics users and non-users in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: A comparative cross-sectional study

Abstract

BackgroundRisky sexual behaviors adversely affect the health of youth and young adults exposing them to sexually transmitted infections including HIV/AIDS and unwanted pregnancy to females that in turn lead to deleterious health, social and economic consequences. Youth centers inform their clients on sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV/AIDS, unwanted pregnancy, high risk abortion, and other reproductive health problems. Therefore, this study was designed to assess the prevalence of risky sexual behaviors among youth center reproductive health clinic users and non-users in Addis Ababa.MethodsA comparative cross-sectional study design was carried out among 524 youth in Addis Ababa from March to April, 2016. The data was entered in EPI-INFO 7 software; and cleaned and analyzed using SPSS version 16.0. The prevalence was computed. Binary and multivariable logistic regression was done to determine the strength, direction and significance of association between youth center reproductive health clinic utilization and risky sexual behavior and to control confounder variables respectively.ResultsA total of 524 youth with the response rate of 92% participated in the study. The overall prevalence of risky sexual behavior was 226 (43.1%) (With statistically significant difference in prevalence among users 101 (38.5%) and non-users 125 (47.7%) of youth center clinics, (p-value = 0.04). The odds of reporting risky sexual behavior was 60% higher among volunteers who did not use the reproductive health clinic, relative to those who did (AOR = 1.60; 95%CI = 1.08, 2.37). Teenagers aged 15–19 years were (AOR = 0.08; 95%CI = 0.05, 0.15) 92% less likely to practice risky sexual behavior compared to those aged 25–29 years old.ConclusionRisky sexual behavior was statistically significantly higher among non-users of the youth center reproductive health clinic compared with the users. In addition, a substantial proportion of the youth engaged in different risky sexual behaviors that are evidenced by the existence of multiple sexual partners, sexual practice without condom and early sexual debut that might predispose youth to STIs including HIV infection and unwanted pregnancy. The ministry of health and its partners should strengthen youth center reproductive health clinics in urban, semi-urban and rural parts of Ethiopia.

Risky sexual behavior and associated factors among adolescents at high schools in Aksum town, Tigray, Ethiopia: A cross-sectional study

“…However, our study result regarding the prevalence of risky sexual behavior is lower than the previous studies conducted in different part on the world such as 51.3% in Mizan Tepi (19), Ethiopia, 43.1% in Addis Ababa (25), 44.9% at Bahir Dar, Ethiopia (6), 40.6% in another Bahir Dar, Ethiopia study (26) and 54% in rural part of Cameroon (27). This disparity might be due to difference in study participants, in which adult construction works and college-level students were mainly considered in studies conducted at Bahir Dar Ethiopia, preparatory students were also included in a study done at Mizan Tepi, Ethiopia, clinical patients in a study at Addis Ababa and it was only female students studied in a Cameroon study.…”

Acceptability of youth clubs focusing on comprehensive sexual and reproductive health education in rural Zambian schools: a case of Central Province

“…Young people in Zambia are faced with a range of problems related to their sexual and reproductive health such as unwanted pregnancies, unsafe abortions, STI/HIV infections and Gender Based Violence (GBV) [3]. However, discussion of subjects such as sexual health and sexuality is still regarded as inappropriate in many areas of the country, especially in rural communities.…”

<p>Does Youth-Friendly Service Intervention Reduce Risky Sexual Behavior in Unmarried Adolescents? A Comparative Study in West Gojjam Zone, Northwest Ethiopia</p>

“…This finding was lower than other studies in Ethiopia (62%, 49.1%, and 43.1%) and Zambia (72.2%). 16,[53][54][55] The difference might be related to characteristics of the study population, methods employed, and study settings. Those studies cited were conducted in institutions, among students, in an urban setting, and used self-administered questionnaires, which may minimize underreporting of adolescent sexual behavior.…”