Assessment of Psychosocial Health and Risky Sexual Behaviors of Students in Higher Learning Institutions: a Comparative Cross-Sectional Study Between Old and Newly Established Universities
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Date
2009-06
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Addis Abeba Universty
Abstract
Students in higher institutions are exposed to many psychosocial problems and risky sexual behaviors as
they are away from their parents and possibly due to suboptimal counseling services. The problems may
be more apparent in newly established universities. Despite this concern, there is no information
regarding the psychosocial health status and risky sexual behaviors of students in higher learning
institutions in Ethiopia.
The study aimed to assess and compare the magnitude of risky sexual behaviors and psychosocial ill
health among students of newly established and old universities.
The study employed a comparative cross-sectional survey supplemented with qualitative methods.
Cluster sampling technique was used to select the departments after dividing the total sample size
proportionally to first year and second year students. A total of 1033 students were included in this
study: 518 from DBU and 515 from AAU. Quantitative data were processed in SPSS v.13.00 statistical
software. Ethical clearance was obtained from ethical review committee of the school of public health
and institutional review board at Medical Faculty of Addis Ababa University. Taped qualitative data
were transcribed, translated into English, and manually analyzed by grouping into predetermined
thematic areas.
The response rate was 97.4%. The results indicate that significantly more students of DBU than AAU
[(24.7%) versus 69(13.4%)] were likely to have had sexual intercourse [P<0.001]. More
students of AAU than DBU used condom in their last sexual intercourse [40(60.6%) versus 21(22.8 %);
AOR (95%CI) = 7.08 (3.00, 16.71)]. Students at DBU were significantly more likely to have multiple se
xual partners than AAU students [75(78.2%) versus 42(62.7%): COR (95%CI)=
2.13(1.06,4.24)]. More students of DBU than AAU [64.9% versus 50.9 % ; AOR(95%CI)=0.60(0.45,0.8
0)]were found to have sad feelings. More students of DBU than AAU [69 (13.4%) versus 47(9.14%); O
R (95%CI) =1.50 (1.03,2.27)] seriously considered suicide. In addition, more students who had psychos
ocial ill health had multiple sexual partner [ 82(70.1%) versus 35(29.9%);
COR(95%CI) = 1.82(1.20,2.75)].
Overall the findings indicate that substantial segment of the student population in both
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universities have risky sexual behavior and psychosocial problems.
This calls for strengthened effort to expand the existing and initiate additional preventive measures.
In both universities, proper orientation is crucially important especially when students first join the
university. Preventive activities for HIV/AIDS like condom distribution, providing health
information about HIV are urgently needed at DBU. In addition, mechanisms for economic support
(for example loan service) should be arranged to the needy students in both universities.
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Assessment of Psychosocial Health and Risky Sexual Behaviors of Students in Higher Learning