Belay Gurja (PhD)Biadiglign Agerie2019-08-232023-11-092019-08-232023-11-092017-08-04http://etd.aau.edu.et/handle/123456789/18811Substance use is a major public health concern in global setting, and is very common during adolescent period leading to physical and/or mental health complications. Young people are engaged in high risky behavior like smoking cigarette, drinking alcohol, use of drugs and gender based violence. These behaviors in turn lead them to engage in sexual risky behavior. In Ethiopia and many other developing countries, the epidemic of HIV/AIDS is high among young people which are mainly due to the risky sexual behaviors. This study was conducted to determine the relationship between substance use and risky sexual behavior among Dembecha comprehensive secondary and preparatory school students. Institutional based cross-sectional study design was employed among Dembecha comprehensive secondary and preparatory school students. A total of 388 students were selected by using simple random sampling methods. A structured, pretested, and self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data. Collected data were entered and analyzed using SPSS version 20. Descriptive statistics was used to calculate the mean, standard deviation and frequency of the study population. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were performed to see the association between independent and dependent variables. Odds ratio with 95% confidence interval were calculated to determine independent predictors of risky sexual behavior. Among 371 of the study subjects; 289(77.9%) respondents were used at least one substance in their life time. The most commonly used substance was alcohol 284(76.5%), khat 36(9.7%), cigarette 3(0.8%) and illicit drug (shisha) 1(0.3%). From the total number of substance use respondents, the majority of respondents’ main reason to use substance were, to get personal pleasure 99(30.5%) and to increase pleasure during sexual intercourse 68(20.9%). 145(39.1%) respondents were sexually active. Among sexually active students, 121(83.4%) had at least one of the risky sexual behavior. Use of alcohol and khat was significantly and independently associated with risky behavior with AOR (95% CI) of 0.12(0.039 - 0.367) and 2.604(1.101- 6.156) respectively. The prevalence of substance use among Dembecha comprehensive secondary and preparatory school students was high. Alcohol was the most used substance among students. Students had developed substance use and risky sexual behavior that might predispose them to HIV/AIDS; school and community based educational program in reducing substance use and risky sexual behavior are important.enSubstance UseRisky Sexual BehaviorComprehensive Secondary and Preparatory School StudentsDembechaAmharaEthiopiaThesis