Abstract:
Background: Substance use and problems arising from it are increasing all over the world, and
currently together with HIV/AIDS epidemic, become one of the most threatening and challenging
social and public health problems. College students are more vulnerable to wider sexual and
reproductive health and HIV/AIDS problems due to new environment with poor protection, age
and the need to explore life, peer pressure and absence of proactive programs(5).
OBJECTIVE: The main objective of this study was to assess the magnitude of risky sexual
behavior and its association with substance use among Bonga town public college students.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 396 Bonga town public college students
from March 2014 to April 2014 using multi-stage stratified sampling technique and a selfadministered questionnaire was used. Descriptive statistics was used to describe the study
population, prevalence, and to check the missing values, outliers, and inconsistencies. Logistic
regressions to determine independent predictors of risky sexual behaviors and the p- value of
0.05 was used as cut off point for the presence of statistical significance.
Results: Among 396 participants 72.7% reported having used at least one substance in their life
time. Commonly used substances were: alcohol (51.3%) followed by khat (15.4%), cigarette
(3.6%) and other illicit substances (2.5%). From total respondents 38.1% admitted having
sexual experience. Among sexually experienced males 4.6% have had sexual intercourse with
commercial sex workers and 4.6% had sexual intercourse with more than one person. Condom
use rate was 64.9% but, its consistency was 58.3%. Sex, educational status, income and ever use
of khat were statistically associated with risky sexual behavior with AOR (95%CI) of 4.5(1.7,
12), 4.7(1.6, 12.9), 3.7(1.4, 10), 2.5(1.1, 6.5) respectively.
Conclusion: The prevalence of substance use among Bonga college students was high (72.7%).
The study also showed that many of the students who were sexually active engaged in unsafe and
risky sexual practices. Awareness rising about safer sex and consequences of substance use for
college students is necessary measure that should be taken.
