Abstract
Background: Risky sexual behaviors are the major factors in rising sexually transmitted infections among adolescents and young adults. In Ethiopia construction industry is on increasing and deriving young people from rural area to the cities. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of risky sexual behaviour and factors associated with among construction workers. Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted in March 2012 among construction workers in Bahir Dar city. The analysis was carried out using SPSS version 16. The data were analyzed in bivariate and multivariate logistic regression. Result: The prevalence of risky sexual behavior among construction workers was 44.9%. Female workers were about four times more likely to have had risky sexual practices than males (AOR = 3.86, 95% CI: 2.34 - 6.37). Respondents whose educational level less than fourth grade were 12 times more likely to be engaged in risky sex than whose educational level tenth grade or more (AOR = 12.13, 95% CI: 1.84 - 79.78). Divorced individuals were about five times more likely to have had risky sexual activities than married individuals (AOR = 4.63, 95% CI: 1.32 - 16.12). Respondents whose first sexual commencement from 15 - 19 years were about three times more likely to have had risky sexual behavior than from 20 - 24 years (AOR = 2.89, 95% CI: 1.70 - 4.91). Besides, the odds of having risky sexual behaviour among construction workers who had sexual partner at the time of the study were about 0.6 times less likely to have had risky sexual behaviours than workers who did not have (AOR = 0.6, 95% CI: 0.38, 0.96). Conclusion: The prevalence of risky sexual behavior among construction workers was 44.9%. Variables such as sex, educational level, marital status, age at first sexual intercourse, presence of current sexual partner and casual sex were found to be independent predictors of risky sexual behaviour. Therefore, interventions targeting on these factors were recommended.
Highlights
Risky sexual behaviors are the major factors in rising sexually transmitted infections among adolescents and young adults
This study indicated that educational status was a significant predictors of risky sexual behaviour among construction workers, specially individuals whose educational status was from grade 1 to 4 were about 12 times more likely to engaged in risky sexual practices than those individuals whose educational level was tenth grade or more (AOR = 12.13, 95% CI: 1.84 - 79.78)
This study declared that age first sexual intercourse is a significant predictors of risky sexual behaviour, respondents whose first sex in the age range 15 - were about 3 times more likely have had sexual risk behaviour than individuals who had their first sex was from - 24 years (AOR = 2.89, 95% CI: 1.70, 4.91)
Summary
Risky sexual behaviors are the major factors in rising sexually transmitted infections among adolescents and young adults. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of risky sexual behaviour and factors associated with among construction workers. Result: The prevalence of risky sexual behavior among construction workers was 44.9%. Risky sexual behavior is the major factor in rising rate of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) including HIV among adolescents and young adults. Adolescents typically have higher STI rates than other age groups and young person’s susceptibility to HIV infection has been consistently linked to intractable higher risk sexual behaviors [1,2]. Young people were engaged in risky sexual activities, which could result sexually transmitted diseases including HIV infection. It was suggested that many young people have got information from different sources with regard to HIV/AIDS; the problem is to bring about behavioral change [4]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
