Abstract:
Background: Young people ages 10-24 are the largest in Ethiopia history and engage in
sexual risk behaviors. Risky sexual behavior is the major factor in the rising rate of
sexually transmitted infections including HIV among young adults. Young people's
susceptibility to HIV infection has been consistently linked to intractable higher-risk
sexual behaviors. Assessing sexual risk behaviors & identifying factors that predispose
to sexual risk behaviors is essential for HIV/AIDS prevention and other youth related
programs
Objective: The main objective of the study is to assess sexual risk behavior among
Debre Markos preparatory school students
Methodology: A cross sectional study was conducted to assess the sexual risk
behavior of Debre Markos preparatory school students using pretested structured
questionnaire on October 12,2010.Data were analyzed by using Univariate, bivariate &
multivariate analysis. While undertaking bivariate analysis, the p-value was used to
assess the relationship of several independent variables with dependant variables
Result: A total of 454 respondents were participated. In this study 24.9% of the
respondents were sexually active. The mean age at first sexual intercourse was
17.1(+1.3 SD) years). Eighty seven (77%) sexually active respondents have sexual risk
behaviors. Eleven (9.7%) of the respondents reported that they have sexual intercourse
with two or more partners. Thirty three percent of sexually active respondents who
practiced sex with commercial sex workers reported consistent condom use. In this
study very important significant association was observed between frequent alcohol
drink, received VCT and received health education at school with sexual risk behavior.
Conclusion: Seventy seven percent of sexually active participant engage in high- risk
sexual behavior. Thus, establishing youth friendly sexual and reproductive health
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services are mandatory at school to delay sex and negotiate condom use. The services
should be available all the time are recommended.
