Parental Characteristics and Youth's Sexual Behavior in Bahir Dar Town, Northwestern Ethiopia
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Date
2007-07
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
The reproductive and sexual health deci sion of young people has several adverse SOCIOdemographic.
economic, and health consequences. Understanding of youth sexual behavior in
relation to parental characteristics is very crucial. A cross sectional survey on parental
characteristics and sexual behavior of school youth was conducted in Bahir Dar town,
Northwestern Ethiopia to examine the influence of parental characteristics on youth sexual
behavior. Data were gathered through structured questionnaire from a total of 766 school yo uth
aged 15-24 years old and further supported by qualitative data from focus group discussion and
in depth interview of key informantsThe study found that 297(38.8%) of youth had sexual experience, of which 51 .5 percent were
females. The mean age of sexual commencement was 16.3 ± 1.34 years old. Among those who
were sexually experienced 43.4 percent of them had multiple sexual partners. Yet, only 32.7
percent of sex ually experienced youth were using condom in their last sex ual experience.
Individual characteristics such as age, frequency of religious attendance and living
arrangement had significant association with sexual behavior of youth. Similarly, parental
characteristics such as religiosity, marital status, education level, house hold income, parentyouth
communication and monitoring had showed significant association with sexual behavior
of youth. Therefore, it is possible to conclude that the sexual behavior of youth had been
significantly con-elates with parental socio-demographic and economic characteristics.On the basis of the above findings, it is recommended that parents should take the
responsibility of creating conducive atmosphere where by their youth feel free to discuss issues
related to reproductive health in general and sexuality in particular. In formation, education and
communication (IEC) programs and concerned organizations in the area of reproductive health
issues need to spend maximum effort to tackle the cultural taboo about parent-youth discussion
on sexual matters by both youth and their parents so that youth can be less sex ually
experienced. At the same time policy makers and implementing agencies should deserve due
attention (n implementing of integrated activities related to the challenges of youth
reproductive health.
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Keywords
Characteristics and Youth's