Risky Sexual Practice and Associated Factors Among Youth Preparatory Students in Gondar City, Northwest Ethiopia

Zelalem Nigussie Azene; Lanchisl Tsegaye; Mekdes W/Gebriel; Adamu Tadesse; Abreham Tadele; Getie Lake Aynalem; Zewudu Andualem; Birhan Tsegaw Taye

doi:10.3389/fpubh.2022.843359

Risky Sexual Practice and Associated Factors Among Youth Preparatory Students in Gondar City, Northwest Ethiopia

Front Public Health. 2022 May 2:10:843359. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.843359. eCollection 2022.

Authors

Zelalem Nigussie Azene¹, Lanchisl Tsegaye², Mekdes W/Gebriel¹, Adamu Tadesse¹, Abreham Tadele¹, Getie Lake Aynalem³, Zewudu Andualem⁴, Birhan Tsegaw Taye⁵

Affiliations

¹ Department of Women's and Family Health, School of Midwifery, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia.
² Department of Midwifery, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dilla, Ethiopia.
³ Department of Clinical Midwifery, School of Midwifery, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia.
⁴ Department of Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety, Institute of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia.
⁵ School of Nursing and Midwifery, Asrat Woldeyes Health Science Campus, Debre Berhan University, Debre Berhan, Ethiopia.

Abstract

Background: Risky sexual practices can negatively affect the health of youths by predisposing them to a variety of sexually transmitted infections, including HIV/AIDS and unwanted pregnancy, which, in turn, would lead to serious lifelong deleterious health, social, and economic consequences. While youths tend to be less well-informed and require more information, little has been known in Ethiopia. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the prevalence of risky sexual practices and associated factors among youth students in Gondar city, northwest Ethiopia.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 414 regularly attending youth students in Gondar city from April to May 2019. A simple random sampling technique was used to select the study participants. Data were collected by using a pre-tested, structured, and self-administered questionnaire. Bivariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were employed, and a multivariable binary logistic regression model was used to identify the effect of independent variables on the outcome variable at p < 0.05 with its 95%CI.

Result: The prevalence of risky sexual practices was 49.3%. Peer pressure (AOR = 1.99, 95%CI: 1.21, 3.26), drinking alcohol (AOR = 4.88 95%CI: 3.06, 7.79), and watching pornography (AOR = 2.82, 95%CI: 1.74, 4.56) were positively associated with the risky sexual practice of youths. Whereas, age, gender, and pocket money did not have any association with risky sexual practice in this study.

Conclusion: In this study, the prevalence of risky sexual practices was found to be high. Thus, multisector collaboration efforts are needed from parents, schools, health facilities, and the government to tackle the exposure of in-school youth toward peer pressure, drinking alcohol, and watching pornographic films, which in turn helps to bring about healthy sexual practices among them.

Keywords: Ethiopia; preparatory school; risky sexual practice; students; youth.

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Cross-Sectional Studies
Ethiopia / epidemiology
Female
Humans
Pregnancy
Schools
Sexual Behavior*
Students*