Desie, Yekoyealem (PhD)Tadesse, Roman2018-08-082023-11-182018-08-082023-11-182015-06http://etd.aau.edu.et/handle/12345678/11196The purpose of the study was to investigate how adolescents get socialized about sexuality; the sources, areas/contents of sexual information/ and socialization and to identify whether there was gender difference in sexual socialization of adolescents. In addition, the study also aimed at examining the relationship between perceived adolescents sexual socialization and RH knowledge. The study design is a descriptive survey where a situation and the prevalent issues under the problem of the study were described. Data were collected from 259 adolescents (150 female and 109 male) using self-reported questionnaire. To select the participants stratified random sampling technique was employed. The finding indicated that with respect to both adolescents’ preferred and current source of sexual information, peer groups were reported as the first source. Parents, particularly mothers were reported as the second preferred source while they were the least with respect to the current sources of sexual information for adolescents. The result of the study also indicated that adolescents were found informed/and socialized with specified areas of SRH issues such as about contraceptives; condoms and birth control, unplanned pregnancy, STIs and STDs including HIV/AIDS. The result of independent samples t-test revealed that there was a significant difference between female and male adolescents in parental sexual communication, perceived parent and peer approval of sexual behavior. Finally, the study indicated that RH knowledge has weak significant positive relationship with peer sexual communication, media SS, perceived parent and peer approval of sexual behavior. To conclude, peer groups were the main source of sexual information for adolescents followed by media and adolescents were found socialized with specified areas of sexual issues. The finding suggests a need to promote parents awareness about the importance of open parent-adolescent sexual communication in the effort to promote adolescents reproductive health and sexual behavior. In addition, there is a need for future in-depth study of the issue. Key words: Adolescent, Sexuality, Sexual Socialization, Reproductive Healthen-USAdolescentSexualityReproductive healthSexual socializationThesis