Abstract:
Back ground: Risky sexual behavior is any behavior that increases the probability of negative
consequences associated with sexual contact. In-school youths may engage to risky sexual
practice intentionally or not. Family environment, peer influence, community factors and school
attachment seem an important factor affecting sexual risk behaviors and decisions of in-school
youths.
Objective: To compare sexual risk behaviors and associated factors among students living with
and away from parents in Jimma zone preparatory schools.
Methods: A comparative cross sectional study design and utilize both qualitative and
quantitative approaches in 5 randomly selected preparatory schools of Jimma zone. A total of
560 students were randomly selected based on proportional to the size of the number of students
in each preparatory school using simple random sampling technique. For collection of
quantitative data structured, pretested and self administered questionnaires was used. Both
descriptive and multiple logistic regression was performed to compare sexual risk behavior
among both group of students. In-depth interview was employed through judgmental sampling
technique to supplement the quantitative result using interview guideline and thematic approach
was applied for qualitative data analysis.
Result: Among students living with parents, higher likelihood of risky sexual behavior
significantly associated with higher levels of alcohol consumption and low frequency of
religious visit. On other hand students living with parents high school attachment and family
support associated with lower level of likelihood of risky sexual behavior. Among students
living away from parents’ higher likelihood of risky sexual behavior significantly associated
with higher levels of alcohol consumption, exposure to pornographic film and having girl/boy
friend. But high family connectedness associated with lower level of likelihood of risky sexual
behavior for both groups of students.
Conclusion and Recommendation: Alcohol consumption, watching pornographic movies and
having girl/boy friend were the major predictors of risky sexual behaviors while religious visit,
family support, family connection and school attachments were the predictrs variables as
preventive factos for risky sexual behaviors.Therefore, BCC which have been made in the
country should consider family environment and other factors which predict risk sexual
behaviors.
