Mulatu Ayana
Debre Markos University College of Medicine and Health Science, Ethiopia
Title: Magnitude and associated factors of early sexual initiation among government preparatory school students, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Biography
Biography: Mulatu Ayana
Abstract
Introduction: Early age at first sexual practice is now common around the world and has been found to pose both social and public health problems especially in the developing countries including HIV, STIs, unwanted pregnancy, induced abortion and Human Papilloma Virus infection. Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the magnitude and factors associated with early sexual initiation among governmental preparatory in-school adolescents in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Methods: An institution based cross sectional study was conducted using multi-stage random sampling method from February to March, 2014. Frequencies, means, tables and graphs were used to present data. Data was entered into a computer by using Epi Info version 3.5.1and analyzed using SPSS version 16.0 for windows. Logistic regression analysis was used in order to identify the association between predictor variables and dependent variable and to control confounders. Results: Of 636, study population 25.3% (50.9% of males and 49.1% of females) reported having practiced early sexual intercourse. The mean age at first sexual intercourse was 15.93±1.33 years and 16.14±1.34 years for males and females, respectively. From those sexually active adolescents 7.3% of males and 2.5% of females reported to having had sexual intercourse before the age of 14 years. Sex AOR=0.53; 95% CI (0.30-0.94), visiting night or day party AOR=4.00; 95% CI (2.25-7.13), using drugs AOR=5.23; 95% CI (2.40-11.39) and viewing pornographic materials AOR=2.84; 95% CI (1.43-5.65) were found to be significantly associated with early sexual initiation. Conclusion: There is a high prevalence of early sexual initiation among adolescents and using drug was the strongest predictor of early sexual initiation. Therefore, the government and other stakeholders should give due emphasis in educating adolescents on harmful sides of drugs and create strong and practical controlling mechanisms.