Magnitude of unsafe sex and its contributing factors among non-married Preparatory School Adolescent Students in Addis Ababa
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Date
2018-06
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Addis Ababa Universty
Abstract
Background: There is a growing evidence suggesting that adolescent students in school are
practicing risky sexual behavior. Ethiopian adolescents age 10 – 19 years have emerged as the
segments of the population most vulnerable to a broad spectrum of serious sexual health problems
including STI/HIV, unwanted pregnancy and unsafe abortion due to growing practice of unsafe sex.
Objectives: The main objective of this study was to assess the magnitude of unsafe sex and factors
contributing to it among preparatory school adolescent students in Addis Ababa.
Methods: A school based cross-sectional study design was employed using a pre-tested selfadministered
questionnaire and supplemented by focus group discussions which were conducted
from May 1 to May 10, 2017 among preparatory students in Addis Ababa. A total of 840 students
were selected using a malti- stage sampling technique. SPSS software version 16 was used to
perform descriptive statistics, bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses to identify
factors associated with no/ inconsistence condom use and having mutiple sexual partener.
Qualitative data were manually analyzed.
Results: Of the 789 study participants age 15-19 years, female participants were 465 (59%) and
324 (41%) male participants were involved. Three hundred fifteen (39.9%) respondents ever had
sexual practice. From those students who ever had sexual practices, 122(38.7%) practicing unsafe
sex, out of the 315 sexual active students 238(75.5%) ever had multiple sexual partners,
112(35.55%) used condom inconsistently whereas 220 (69.84%) of students never used condom
during the last sexual intercourse and 224(28.4%) reported that their families didn’t know their
friends. Regarding the behavior of Adolescent, 324 (41.1%) drink alcohol, 215(27.2%) chew khat,
87 (11.0%) smoked shisha and 541 (68.6%) watched pornographic video. Adolescent students
having family monitoring were protected from unsafe sex than those who don’t have family
monitoring (AOR=0.282, [95%CI: 0.130, 0.611], P=0.001). Adolescent consumed alcohol are 2.7
times at risk than adolescent not consuming alcohol (AOR=2.682, [95%CI: 1.166, 6.202],
P=0.021).
Conclusion: Engaging in unsafe sexual behaviors was independently associated with drinking
alcohol and parental monitoring. Adolecents who drink alcohol are at risk for unsafe sex and
adolecents who have family monitoring were protected from unsafe sex.
Therefore, preparatory school based, risk reduction and behavior change focused interventions are
recommended.
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Keywords
adolescent students,risky sexual behaviorPreparatory School