Ca Uses and Consequenses of Risky Sexual Beha Vior Among The Military Personnel at Zalambessa Town, Tigray Regional State
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Date
2009-06
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Objective: The general objective of the study is to investigate the extent of risky sexual
behavior among Military personnel and to explore the various underlying causes and
consequences ojfheir sexual behavior in. Tigray regional state, Zalambessa town.
Method: A cross-sectional study design lVas employed to achieve the stated objectives. Simple
random sampling was used to select the 420 respondents. To analyze the data univariate,
bivariate, and multivariate techniques of data analysis were applied. Chi square test was
employed to see the associatloll between predictive and all/come variables. Logistic regression is
also fit to identify determinants of risky sexual behavior using Statistical Package for Social
Scientists (SPSS Version 15). To in-depth the results of the quantitative data, qualitative data
were also generated using FGD.
Results: Ninety-two percent of the study population has ever had sexual intercourse. Eightynine
percent, fortylour percent and twenty-five percent of the respondents had sexual
intercourse, had sex with commercial sex workers and had at least four or more sexual partners,
respectively in the last 12 months. Ninety-six percent and ninety-five percent of the respondents
reported to have ever heard about condoms and used in their life time consistently, respecti vely.
Multivariate results showed that the likelihood of having sex with commercial sex workers who
had ever married is more than never married by a factor of 1.95. The likelihood of having work
related stress for those who said no is greater than those who said yes by a factor of 1.6. Those
respondents who took alcohol i1l the last foul' weeks preceding the survey were more likely to
have sex withill commercial sex workers than those who did not consume alcohol.
The logistic regression model also reflects thm variables like education, marital status and work
related stress come up as determinants oj sex with commercial sex workers. As, education
increases the likelihood of doing sex with commercial sex workers decreases. This indicates that
educatioll has its own positive role in denying sex with sex workers.
The model again depicts that age, education and work related stress are determinants of mUltiple
sexual partners. Age is positively correlated with multiple sexual partners. Thus it can be said
that increase in age by itself has a positive influence in developing multiple sexual partners. On
the other hand, education. has a negative influence on having multiple sexual partners.
Conclusion: Studies on sexual behavior of the sexually active population in general and the
adolescent including Military force ill particular are crucial in designing, implementing and
monitoring effective intervention programs, targeted in behavioral changes that enable to
prevent or to reduce risky sexual behavior. Finally, the study recommends that in order
to bring behavioral change in the military personnel, concerned military health officers should
arrange programs using Drama, Magazine (Tikl/akur Nebroch or the black Tigers), in the Ami
ADS club. Peer education should also be promoted if risky sexual behavior is to be eliminated
among the military personnel.
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Keywords
Risky Sexual Behavior