The Influences of Family, Peers and School Clubs on Adolescents' Sexual Behavior and Risk Perception
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Date
2007-06
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Today premarital intercourse is becoming common among adolescents because of many
factors such as decline in the age of puberty and delaying marriage. In addition, this early
sexual in;(;a(;ol1 C((11 he alfrilmted to many factors such as family relaled variables, peer
pressure and perceived peer group sexual activity. Provision of information and guidance
on sexuality for adolescents is low or non-existent. Consequently, adolescents can make
uninformed sexual decisions resulting in risks like HIVIAIDS and unplanned pregnancy.
Hence, this s(lIdy was in(ended to assess family, peers and school clubs as predictors of
sexual behavior and risk perception of high school adolescents of two selected towns
(Adama and Shashamanne) from each of which 2 schools were randomly selec(ed. US'ing
stratification 360 participants, 184 males and 176 females, were selected. To collect the
necessary data, close-ended questionnaire whose validity and reliability were tesled using
test-retest method and semi-structured FGDs were employed. The study indicated that
nearly one-thirds of the respondents were sexually active. Males and older adolescents
accountedfor the higher proportion of the sexually active adolescents. Most of them never
or inconsistently used condom during the first intercourse and during intercourse with
their regular partners. Risky sexual behavior was associated with single parenting and low
economic background for girls than for the boys. Adolescent-family communication on
sexual mailers was found to be uncommon. Participation in clubs and parental education
had significant correlation with risky sexual behaviors. Though peers were reported as the
major S01!rce (?( il?(ormation. the relationships hetween risky hehavior and peer
communication was not significant. Therefore, the problem investigated in the study should
be intervened thou~h establishing adolescent health policy and provision of awareness and
practical skills on sexual issues
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Education