Sexual Initiation and Contraceptive Use among Female Youths in Ambo Town
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Date
2013-07
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Addis Abeba Universty
Abstract
Background: Early sexual debut may be linked to reproductive health problems later in life. In addition,
both the timing of first sex and contraceptive use are affected by a variety of factors and this makes the
consequences of youth sexuality much more serious. It is important to understand what influences youths‟
sexual initiation, the need to use contraceptive methods and the consequences of these behaviours. These
may affect the design and implementation of effective early pregnancy and disease prevention strategies.
Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the age at first sexual intercourse, contraceptive use
and related factors among female youths in Ambo town.
Methods: A cross-sectional community-based study was conducted in Ambo town of West Shoa Zone,
Oromia Regional State between January and February, 2013. Two kebeles out of three were randomly
selected. Multistage cluster sampling technique was used to draw sample size of 675. Then, households
were selected by systematic sampling technique. Structured and pretested questionnaire and semi
structured FGD guide was employed to collect data. Descriptive statistics such as frequencies, percentages
and graphs were used. To determine the association between dependent and independent variables, odds
ratio with 95% confidence interval was computed. Logistic regression was also employed to assess
possible factors.
Result: Overall, nearly half, 48.7% of the surveyed participants have ever had sex. The median age at first
sex being 17 years while; the mean ± SD age was 16.7±2.1.Multivariate analysis showed that age group of
20-24[AOR= 7.35, (95%CI 4.80, 11.26)], those who attend, at least secondary education [AOR = 3.09
(95%CI;1.44, 6.66)], those who encouraged by their friends to have boyfriend [AOR = 2.09 (95% CI;
(1.42, 3.06), ever drank alcohol [AOR = 5.76 (95 % CI; 3.57, 9.31), and ever watched pornographic
materials[AOR =1.78(95%CI; 1.19, 2.66)]were more likely to initiate sex.
Knowledge of at least one contraceptive method was 95.4% and overall contraceptive current use was
37.3%. Multivariate analysis shows that age group of 20-24 [AOR= 3.22, (95%CI 2.08, 4.98)] and youths
with partners who have discussed about the method [AOR= 2.15 (95%CI, 1.38, 3.34)] were more likely to
use contraceptives. Currently unmarried [AOR= 0.17 (95%CI, (0.09, 0.31)] was less likely to use
contraception compared to currently married. As the qualitative data suggested, the perceived age at sexual
debut among young girls is very early.
Conclusion and Recommendation: Substantial amount of female youths had started sexualactivity that
might expose them to different reproductive health problems. Thus, early sexual initiation coupled with
very low contraceptive use among youth females is a potential risk of the development of sexual and
reproductive health problems. Therefore, in view of our finding, an active effort to promote sexuality
education and contraceptive use should be intensified among female youths in the town, particularly young
women, in making informed decisions about sexual intercourse and contraceptive uses.
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Sexual Initiation and Contraceptive Use among Female Youths in Ambo Town