Assessment of Reproductive Health Behavior and Needs of Street Youth in Dessie Town, Amhara Region
No Thumbnail Available
Date
2007-07
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Addis Abeba Universty
Abstract
Background: Street youth are exposed to situations that make them vulnerable to sexual and
reproductive health problems. The majority of street children are living in conditions of severe
deprivation, which place them at all kinds of health risks. Street youth have risky sexual
behaviors that increase the likelihood of adverse sexual and reproductive health consequences.
Objectives and methods: A cross sectional survey was conducted among 343 street youth with
focus group discussions to assess reproductive health behavior and needs of street youth in
Dessie Town. The total number of street youth in the town was determined to be 1900 after
conducting census for two days. The study subjects were identified by using systematic sampling
from the sampling frame. Data was collected using structured questionnaire, entered and
analyzed using EPI info and SPSS statistical program respectively.
Results: Majority, 67.9%, of the respondents had started sexual intercourse with the mean age of
15.2 years. Ever having sex was associated with being male, income of 5-10 birr and greater than
10 birr per day, more than one year on the street, former residence being rural areas, alcohol
drinking and khat chewing. 80.6% of the respondents have more than one sexual partners and the
mean lifetime number of sexual partners was 4.85. Among sexually active street youth, 63.9 %
had ever used modern contraceptives and it was associated with type of street life, sex, marital
status, secondary education and alcohol drinking. Consistent use of condoms was found to be
low, 22.8%. Living with peers and alone, former residence being rural areas, more than one year
on the street and number of sexual partners above one were found to be associated with
consistent use of condoms. It is important to mention that the level of awareness about
contraception, HIV/AIDS and other STIs was considerably high; nevertheless, most of them are
found to be involved in risky sexual behaviors and the great majority of them considered
themselves at low risk for HIV.
Conclusion: It was concluded that despite the majority of street youth had adequate knowledge
of selected reproductive health issues, most street youth engage in high risk sexual practices.
This fact calls for a coordinated and comprehensive effort by responsible organizations to
mobilize peer based interventions to bring behavioral change in reducing risky sexual practices.
Description
Keywords
Assessment of Reproductive Health Behavior