Sexual risk behaviours among secondary school youths in Enemay District, East Gojam Zone, Ethiopia

Abstract

Youths are more likely to engage in sexual risky behaviours, such as unsafe sexual practices and substance abuse. Despite this, youths are not considered a health priority because of their lower morbidity and mortality rates relative to older and younger age groups. This quantitative descriptive cross-sectional study explored factors influencing sexual risk behaviours among youths in selected secondary schools in Ethiopia. Data were collected from 275 secondary school students using structured questionnaires. Data were analysed with the help of descriptive statistics. Religious attachment, parental control, and level of parental education are some examples of the factors that may influence youths to engage in sexual risk behaviours. The findings of this study have implications for both practice and policy development. The findings would enable healthcare workers to identify youths at risk of engaging in sexual risk behaviours, and subsequently motivate them to engage in safe sexual practices. Healthcare workers’ efforts to minimise factors influencing sexual risk behaviours should be directed more at parents and peers than at educators. Adopting such an approach would prevent or at least minimise the risk of youths being infected with sexually transmitted infections, including HIV.

Keywords: HIV/AIDS, senior secondary schools, sexual risk behaviours, sexually transmitted infections, youths