RISKY SEXUAL BEHAVIOR AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG ODA BULTUM UNIVERSITY STUDENTS, EASTERN ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Background: Early sexual debut, having multiple sex partners, alcohol abuse and non-use of condoms are the risky sexual behaviors among young people that make them vulnerable to many health problems. The numbers of higher learning institutions increase in number and size in Ethiopia. However, there is limited information on the sexual and reproductive health aspects of University students in Ethiopia. This study aimed to assess the magnitude of risky sexual behaviors and predictors of undergraduate students of Oda Bultum University, Chiro town, Eastern Ethiopia. Objectives: The main objective of the study was to identify student’s risky sexual behavior and predictors among Oda Bultum University, Eastern Ethiopia from January 3 to February 15, 2021. Methods: the study was Institutional based quantitative cross sectional conducted by using a pre tested self-administer questionnaire among randomly selected 371 students to determine magnitude of risky sexual behavior of Oda Bultum University undergraduate regular students in Chiro, Eastern Ethiopia. The collected data were cleaned, coded and entered into Epi data version 3.02 and then exported to SPSS Ver.25 for analysis. Binary logistic regression was performed to assess the association between each independent variable and dependent variables. Odd Ratios along with 95% Confidence intervals was used to identify factors associated with the outcome variable using multivariable logistic regression and then the level of statistical significance was declared at p-value less than 0.05. Result: Among 355(95.7%) respondents, 235(66.2%) ever engaged sexual and Over all finding showed 145(61.7%) 95%CI (55.5%-67.9%) students of ever practice risky sexual behaviors. Those students age 19-22 years old were 3.59 more likelihood of risky than 23-27 years old (AOR= 3.59; 95%CI: 1.61, 8.02). Senior students were more likely involved risky sexual behavior than junior (AOR 3rd =3.56; 95%CI: 1.05, 12.09). Respondents attend on video, pornography and entertainment was 4.6 more likelihood of risky sexual behaviors (AOR= 4.68; 95%CI: 2.02, 10.85). Participants had intercourse after drunken alcohol 7.8 more likely engaged to risky sexual behaviors (AOR=7.86; 95%CI: 3.46-17.86). Had information of Sexuality and Reproductive Health was (AOR =.05; CI: 0.02-.16) 95% less likely to practice risky sexual behavior compared to those didn’t have information of sexuality Conclusion: this study disclosed high risky sexual behavior among the study population. Risky sexual behaviors were statistical positive associated with group age, academic year; attend on video, pornography and entertainment, and drunken alcohol. However, Risky sexual behaviors were negatively associated with information of sexuality and reproductive health.