Browsing by Author "Amare, Mohammed"

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    Gender Differentials in Adolescent Sexual Activity and Reproductive Health Risks in Bahir Dar Town
    (Addis Ababa University, 2008-07) Amare, Mohammed; Amare, Mohammed (PhD)
    Ethiopia is a developing countly with a demographic profile dominated by a young population. Due to biological, socio-cultural and economic factors, young people, particularly those aged 14- 19 yp'lrs, are generally at a high risk of H1VIA1DS and other reproductive health problems. This study is intended to examine gender differences in adolescent sexual behavior and reproductive health risks in Bahir Dar town. A cross-sectional, study was conducted in Bahir Dar town. Both quantitative and qualitative data-collection methods were employed to conduct the study. For quantitative data collection, a household interview survey was conducted among 630 males and 693 female's adolescents, aged 14-19 years, within the 5 randomly selected Kebeles of the town and conducted four focus-group discussions, with 40 participants, /0 collec/ed qualitative data. Logistic regression analysis was used to examine the influence of the explanatOlY variable on the dependent variables using the SPSS version 13. The study examined gender differences in sexual initiation, unsafe sexual behavior, condom use, sexually transmitted diseases and abortion. Logistic techniques reveal that younger females were more likely than older females to have become sexually active by early age. Adolescents currently enrolled in school were less likely to have begun early sexual activity, particularly females. Females who discussed sexual issues with friends were more likely to initiate early sexual activity than males. Among sexually experienced adol"~cents 65.2% of males and 59.1% of females had two or more sexual partners in the previous year. The proportion with multiple partners Significantly increased with age. Around 50% of females and 60% of males aged 14-19 years had used condoms at least once, while only 17.9% of females and 26.4% of males used condom during Ihe last intercourse. Risk of having a sexually Iransmitted disease in the previous year was higher for both fell/ales and males who have mlilliple sexual partners. Because of early and unprotected sexual initiation, and subsequent high risk sexual behaviors characterized by multi-partnered sex and no or inconsistent condom use adolescent in Ethiopia are at significant riskfor reproductive health problems, including HIV, STD and unwanted pregnancy. Gender-based interventions for adolescents should be given at earlier age and strategies for delaying sexual initiation as well as ejJective skills and methods for the prevention of HIVIAIDSISTD and unwanted pregnancy should be adopted.