Assessment of Premarital Sexual Initiation and Associated Factors Among Mersa Town, Preparatory and High School Students, North Wollo, Amhara Regional State
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Date
2012-05
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Background: Adolescence is a period of dynamic change representing the transition from childhood to adulthood and is marked by emotional, physical, and sexual maturation. Habits that are formed during adolescence had major effects in adulthood health and welfare ranges from 10-19 years and young people or youth is in the age ranges of 15 to 24 years old
Objective: The aim of this study was to assess prevalence of premarital sexual initiation and associated factors among Mersa Preparatory and High school students, North Wollo, Amhara National Regional State, March 10-30, 2012.
Methods: A school based quantitative cross sectional survey was conducted from March 10 to 30, 2012. Stratified random sampling technique proportional to size was applied. Pretested, structured and close ended questions prepared in English and translated to the local Amharic
language and self administered type of questionnaire was used. Data was entered using EPI INFO .version 3.5.1 and exported and analyzed using SPSS version 16.0 windows and multiple logistic regression models were used to identify predictors of premarital sexual initiation.
Results: A total of 356 respondents were involved in the study. The prevalence of premarital sex was 31.7%. The mean age of sexual initiation in the study population was 16.46 ± 2.3 for males, 16.6 ± 1.4 for females and 16.5± 1.9 years for both sex. Being male by gender [COR 2.053 (1.278, 3.300) and AOR 1.703 (1.997, 2.910)], age greater than 15 years [COR 2.333 (1.075, 5.063) and AOR 1.572(1.627, 3.941)], having pocket money [COR 0.446 (0.277, 0.720) and AOR 2.102(1.244, 3.552)] were found to be significantly associated with premarital sex
Conclusion and recommendation: This study has revealed that early sexual initiation before marriage was high and school adolescents started sexual intercourse very early and are involved with high-risk sexual practices which were unplanned and unprotected. Consistent Provision of information about adolescent reproductive health in general and per-marital sexual practices and factors related to it in particular should be provided to the school
adolescents by the concerned governmental and non-governmental bodies.
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Premarital sexual