Social Connectedness and Risky Sexual Behavior among youth in North Shewa Zone, Oromia Region, Central Ethiopia; Cross Sectional Study

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