Premarital Sexual Behavior, Pregnancy Incidence and its Resolutions in Bahir Dar Town
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Date
1998-06
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
A study was conducted on premarital sexual behaviour, pregnancy incidences and
resolutions among the youth population in Bahir Dar Town, Ethiopia. The Eligible
population for the study was defined as never marriedfemales between the ages of 15-24. The
sample was designed to be drawn from a sampling frame based on household listings.
Questionnaires were completed by 865 unmarried female adolescents.
The majority of the respondents indicated that they had received information on reproductive
health. The principal sources of information were partners and female friends. Few
respondents approved of premarital sex without restriction, but many approved of such
relations if the couple is engaged to be married.
Among the respondents, over 42 per cent reported that they have had sexual relations. The
proportion varied considerably as age increases. Incidence of premarital pregnancy among
sexually active adolescents in the study area were found to be about 25 per cent. Prevalence
of induced abortion was estimated to be 10 to 69 per cent among the study respondents.
Premarital sexual behaviour and pregnancy risk among adolescents appear to be related to a
series of socio demographic and family background characteristics.
The study indicates a need to target the school teenagers and design programmes which will
effectively inform and educate the young in the area of reproductive health counselling and
services.
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Keywords
Sexual Behavior