Unprotected Sex and Associated Factors among Adolescent Students of Rift Valley University Jimma Campus, Jimma Town, South West Ethiopia: Institution Based Cross Sectional Study

Abstract

Unprotected sex is a sex-related risk behavior that contributes to pregnancy and sexually transmitted disease transmission amongst adolescents. Adolescents have high rates of unprotected sex and sexually transmitted diseases, and they are at increased risk for adverse behaviors and outcomes. Establishing risk factors for unprotected sex in adolescents is one of the essential steps in developing primary and secondary prevention programs in universities and communities. However there is lack of information on unprotected sex and associated factors among private university adolescents in the study area. Thus, the aim of this study was to assess the effects of associated factors on unprotected sex among adolescent students of Rift Valley University Jimma campus, Jimma town, South West Ethiopia. Institutional based cross-sectional study was employed from November 06-21, 2017. Five hundred twenty three (523) adolescent students of Rift Valley University Jimma campus were selected using a simple random sampling technique. Data were collected using a pre-tested, structured, self-administered questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS version 20. Multivariate logistic regression was conducted to identify the independent predictors of unprotected sex at 95% CI and P-value less than 0.05. The study revealed that 40.4% of respondents were sexually experienced. Majority (74.3%) reported having had sex with only one lifetime partner and 131 (63.6%) had used condom during sex before. Majority (56.3%) of the sexually experienced respondents were sexually active within 12 months of study. Up to 28.4% of sexually experienced respondents have had sex with a person other than their current partner and 44 (37.9%) of them did not used condom consistently. Hence, twenty three (19.8%) of the study participants were reported unprotected sexual practices. Being late age at first sexual intercourse, low parental supervision, visiting night club, and hadn't source of information on sexuality were the significant predictors of unprotected sex within 12 months of study. The findings of this study showed that university students are involved in unprotected sex that may increase their risk of contracting Human Immunodeficiency Virus infection. Based on the above results, researcher recommended the university, families and zonal education office and other stakeholders should be involved and working in collaboration to reduce the unprotected sexual practice.

Induced Abortion and Its Predictors Among Hawassa University Female Students

“…This study revealed very worrisome figures of unsafe abortion and unsafe sexual practices among female Hawassa University students; magnitudes of induced abortion all respondents were 9.6% and among those respondents who experience intercourse were 28.5%. Which is three fold higher than national report of abortion in Ethiopia (2.3%); but it is almost similar with a stud conducted in Wolayita Sodo University [39]. Similarly induced abortion among students of Kaduna State University, Northwestern Nigeria was 8.38% [40].…”

Pregnancy History and Associated Factors Among Hawassa University Regular Undergraduate Female Students, Southern Ethiopia

“…In this study Collage of Agriculture, Social Science and Humanity, and Natural and Computational science were more likely to have pregnancy compared to college of Medicine and Health science students. This study is supported by studies which states that subjects who have health background have better trend in prevention of unintended pregnancy (28)(29)(30)(31). This might be due to relatively health science students have better information on prevention of unintended pregnancy.…”

A Comparative Analysis of Risky Sexual Behaviors, Self-Reported Sexually Transmitted Infections, Knowledge of Symptoms and Partner Notification Practices among Male and Female University Students in Pretoria, South Africa

“…They are at high risk of acquiring STIs and HIV due to an early age of sexual debut and inconsistent condom use [ 10 , 11 ]. The earlier age of sexual debut and low condom use among young people, including university students, has been associated with a reduction in the success of prevention interventions [ 12 , 13 ].…”

“…Other studies reported that university students are likely to engage in unprotected sex, have multiple sex partners, engage in sex with older partners, engage in casual sex, and have sex under the influence of alcohol or drugs [ 6 , 7 , 12 , 13 , 14 ]. In South Africa, 61% of students in the institutions of higher education are in a sexual relationship and 15% of them have sex partners who are older than themselves by five or more years [ 15 ].…”