Risky Sexual Behaviors and Associated Factors among Students Living With And Away From Parents in Jimma Zone Preparatory Schools, South West Ethiopia

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.