Abstract:
BACKGROUND: Traditional views of sexual behaviors are frequently changing a s the factors
influencing them are changing. Therefore, assessing sexual practices that are not part of the tradition
would be necessary. The objective of this study was to identify the types of sexual practices, their
development pattern and how these dev elopment patterns expose students to sexually transmitted
infections and unplanned pregnancy.
METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted on a sample of 1986 (1612 males, 365 females, and
with 9 subjects’ gender not indicated) Jimma university student s in August 2009 with their age ranging
from 17 -45 years (median = 20). Quantitative data was collected using a piloted, precoded questionnaire
and qualitative data was collected from six focus group discussions. Logistic regression and descriptive
statistics were computed and qualitative findings were triangulated with quantitative findings. P-value
less than 0.05 was considered significant.
RESULTS: Practice of penile to vaginal intercourse, masturbation, kissing, oral sex, and anal sex were
reported by 567 (28.9%), 688 (36.7%), 840 (42.4%), 179 (9.2%) and 83 (4.3%) of the respondents,
respectively. Respondents had two years (one year with and one year without condom) of sexual
experience before marriage. Sixty percent of those who had sexual experience w ere exposed to sexually
transmitted infections and 46.6% were exposed to both unplanned pregnancy and sexually transmitted
infections. Forty seven percent of those who practiced oral sex and 29% of those who practiced anal sex
did not consider their acts a s sexual intercourse.
Conclusions: University students are high risk groups that need more focused research and concerted
health care. The term ‘sexual intercourse’ should be consciously defined for its future use in Ethiopia.
Furthermore, Service providers and researchers should address all types of sexual practices
