Assessment of Premarital Sexual Practices and Determinant Factors Among High School Students in West Shoa Zone, Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia

Abstract

Background: Adolescents face fears, concerns and lack of understanding about their needs, thus asking for or seeking guidance and service is very difficult. Most of youth lack basic knowledge of reproductive anatomy, physiology, how pregnancy or STI/HIV occurs, how to prevent them or where to obtain information and services. Most adults fear that informing young adolescents about sex and teaching them how to protect them was make them sexually active. Objective: the objective of the study was to assess premarital sexual behavior and determinant factors among high school students in west shoa zone. Methodology: the study was conducted in West Shoa Zone Oromia Regional state by using cross sectional study design with structured self-administered questionnaire which supplemented by 3 focus group discussion. The collected data entered and analyzed by using EPinfo and SPSS software. Result: From a total of 843 students who were selected for the study, 828 were participated. One hundred thirty eight (16.7%) of the respondents were reported chat chewing, 552(66.7%) of the respondents were reported alcohol consumption and 322(38.9%) of the students were attended video. The majority of the respondents, 552 (66.7%) had ever sexual partner. Among those who had sexual partner, 506 of the students had ever sexual practice. Of the respondents who had sexual practice, 186(36.8%), 230(45.4%) of the respondents were less than 15 years and between 15 and 19 years of age at their first sexual exposure respectively. Among the socio-demographic variables, sex of the respondents (female), the respondent’s parent educational status and participants who have no pocket money as well as from the behavioral variables, students who did not talk with parent about sexual issues, students who drinking alcohol, participants who attending video/ movies, students who have no information about sexual issues were significantly associated with pre-marital sexual practice of the students. Conclusion and recommendation-In this study the premarital sexual practice and associated factors were assessed. Based on the finding of both qualitative and quantitative studies premarital and early sexual practice was commonly practiced by most school adolescents. Open discussion about sexual related issues and provide adequate and updated reproductive health related information through school health education, establishing reproductive health club in the school should be promoted.