Abstract:
Background: Adolescent risky sexual behavior has global concern because of its negative
consequences on physical, social and psychological health of adolescents. Engaging in risky
sexual behaviors is associated low family connectedness, low self-esteem, low self-efficacy,
substance use and low perceived efficacy to use condom and watching pornographic social
media. Human beings have a deep-seated need to feel connected, trusted and loved. Social
connectedness has association with mental health, physical health, and longevity.
Objectives: To assess social connectedness and risky sexual behavior among youths in North
Shewa zone, Oromia region, Central Ethiopia, February 2016.
Methods: A cross-sectional study supported by qualitative data was conducted in North Shewa
Zone Oromia National Regional State, from February to March 2016. For survey, 635 students
were selected using a multi-stage sampling method from six districts, while four FGDs contained
38 students were selected by homogeneous purposive sampling technique for FGDs. Pre-tested,
structured and translated self-administered questionnaire and FGD guide were used to collect the
data. Data was entered in to Epi-Data version 3.1 and exported to SPSS version 20 for Windows
for analysis. Backward likelihood logistic regression was carried out to identify the independent
predictors of risky sexual behavior
Result: One hundred fifteen (18.3%) of the respondents have developed risky sexual behavior.
Of sexual actives, 23.5%, 45.2% and 45 (39.1%) of the students were consistently used condom,
had sex with two or more partners and below the age of 18 years at first sex respectively. The
mean social connectedness score of the respondent was 77.8 (SD + 10). Social connectedness
was inversely correlated with having multiple sexual partners, use of condoms and overall risky
sexual behavior. Substance user students have four times risky sexual behavior than non users
(AOR= 4, 95%CI (1.54 -10.3)). For a unit increase in score of family, religion and school
connectedness of the student, the odds of becoming at risk was reduced by 0.39 (AOR= 0.39,
95%CI (0.303-0.51)), 0.23 (AOR= 0.23, 95%CI (0.169-0.31)) and 0.39 (AOR= 0.39, 95%CI
(00.297-0.52)) respectively. This means youths who have high connectedness were less likely
engaged in risky sexual activity.
Conclusion Grade level, substance use, religious connectedness, family connectedness and
school connectedness were major predictors of risky sexual behavior
