Potential predictors of risk sexual behavior among private college students in Mekelle City, North Ethiopia

Abstract

IntroductionRisk sexual practice among students from public universities/colleges is common in Ethiopia. However, little has been known about risk sexual behavior of students in private colleges where more students are potentially enrolled. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the magnitude of risky sexual behaviors and predictors among students of Private Colleges in Mekelle City.MethodsA mixed design of both quantitative and qualitative methods was used among 627 randomly selected students of private colleges from February to march 2013. Self administered questionnaire and focus group discussion was used to collect data. A thematic content analysis was used for the qualitative part. For the quantitative study, Univariate, Bivariate and multivariable analysis was made using SPSS version 16 statistical package and p value less than 0.05 was used as cut off point for a statistical significance.ResultsAmong the total 590 respondents, 151 (29.1%) have ever had sex. Among the sexually active students, 30.5% reported having had multiple sexual partners and consistent condom use was nearly 39%. In multivariable logistic regression analysis, variables such as sex, age group, sex last twelve months and condom use last twelve months was found significantly associated with risky sexual behavior. The findings of qualitative and quantitative study showed consistency in presence of risk factors.ConclusionFinding of this study showed sexual risk behaviors is high among private colleges such as multiple sexual partners and substance use. So that colleges should emphasis on promoting healthy sexual and reproductive health programs.

Prevalence of Premarital Sex and Related Risky Practices Among Students of Ayer Tena Health Science and Business College, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: A cross-sectional study

“…The present study investigated the prevalence of premarital sex and risky sexual practices (behaviors) among students of a private college. It revealed the prevalence premarital sexual intercourse among the study participants, which was 23.3%, is lower than the recentlyreported gures for students of governmental higher institutions in Ethiopia, including Robe Technical and Vocational Education Training College (51.9%) [35], Aksum University (60%) [29], private colleges in Mekelle (51.9%) [33], Addis Ababa Science and Technology University (26.8%) [27], Wollega University (28.4%, 36.4%) [25,26], Jigjiga University (67.67%) [24], Debre Tabor university (25.9%) [30], Debre Markos government higher education institutions (25.%) [41] Addis Ababa University (26.8%) [27]and Debre Berhan University (54.3%) [22], and private colleges in Mekelle (51.9%) [33]. The current gure is also lower than the ones reported for nursing students from healthcare training institutions in Enugu State (45.8%) of Nigeria [20], forfemale undergraduates' students of Muhimbili and Dar es Salaam Universities(70.4%), Tanzania [21], for students of Uganda Martyrs University (74%) [42] and for students of Botswana University (65.35%) [43] as indicated by a study published in 2010 and 2012, respectively.…”

“…In the present study 34.1% of study participants reported to have two or more sexual partners which is less than that of students of Aksum University (64.4%), University of Gondar (54.2%), private colleges in Bahir Dar (45.3%) and Bahir Dar University (42.7%) [23,29,36,38] but greater than that of students of private colleges in Mekelle (30.5%), Mizan Aman College of Health Sciences (16.3%) [37], and Madawalabu, Wollega, Debre Berhan and Jigjiga universities, and governmental higher institution in Debre Markos, in which33.6%, 31.3%,21.4%, 33.2% and 30.14%had multiple sexual partners,respectively [22,24,25,31,33,41].…”

“…It was very high in Uganda (74%) andBostwana (65.35%) as indicated by a study published in 2010and 2012, respectively. In Ethiopia the prevalence of premarital sex among university or college students ranges from about 23% to 68% [22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35]. [22-25, 29, 31, 33, 36-38, 41].…”

Sexual behavior across the transition to adulthood and sexually transmitted infections

“…Sexuality is a normative and physiological component of adolescent development [ 5 ] and usually this group engage in risky sexual practices such as early sexual intercourse, multiple sexual partners, unprotected sexual intercourse, and casual sex. [ 6 , 7 ] Through diverse sexual experiencing, this population can learn about what they like in a partner and come to understand their own sexual identity, corroborating to the fact that emerging adults are more likely to have multiple partners during the past 12 months compared to any other age group. [ 8 ]…”

Risky Sexual Behavior and Associated Factors Among Sexually-Active Unmarried Young Female Internal Migrants Working in Burayu Town, Ethiopia

“…Most studies conducted on risky sexual behaviors in Ethiopia were mainly focused on key populations such as female sex workers, secondary school students, university students, adolescents, youths and substance users (6,20,21,(23)(24)(25). Nevertheless, the study that focused on sexual behavior of internal migrants is very limited.…”