Abstract:
Background: The health threats for adolescents(especially school students) today are
predominantly behavioral rather than biomedical and more of today's adolescents are
involved in risky sexual behaviors. Ethiopian government had designed reproductive health and
Human Immuno deficiency Virus/Aquired Immuno Defficiency Syndrome strategies. But
Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey 2011 report showed behavioral gaps that women in
the Gambella region report higher mean number of lifetime sexual partners 8.1 than women in
other regions 1.2 to 2 partners. Gambella HIV prevalence is 6.5%, higer when compared to
1.5% of the country.
Objective: The objective of this study was to assess sexual behavior and associated factors
among high school students in Gambella Town in 2014.
Methods: An institution based cross-sectional survey was conducted on a random sample of 415
students (97% response rate), on March 14, 2014 in Gambella town, using quantitative
technique. Data was collected using pre -tested self administered questionnaire. Data was
analyzed using SPSS for windows version 16 where descriptive statistics was computed. Binary
and multiple logistic regression had done. P-value less than 0.05 was considered statistically
significant.
Result: From 415 respondents 178(42.9%) ever had sex; 253 (61%) of them were males. One
hundred thirty six (76.4%) were sexually active. Parents income (AOR: 0.33, 95% CI:0.14-0.79),
parental monitoring (AOR:0.4, 95% CI:0.27-0.60) and substance use (AOR: 1.82, 95% CI:1.23-
2.67) were factors that shows statisticaly significant with risky sexual behavior. Prevalence of
risky sexual behavior was 31.3%,,(35.6% male versus 24.7% female)
Conclusion: Many students were sexually active, and reported that they use substances. These
students also report that they had an exposure of risk sex(inconsistent condom use, multiple
sexual partner or never condom use). Government institutions, private sectors and NGOs should
have target at substance use and parental monitoring
