Abstract:
Statement of the problem: Street youths are exposed to situations that make them vulnerable to
sexual and reproductive health problems on a day to day basis. Their vulnerability to these
situations is increased by their lack of understanding of the changes associated with adolescence,
their lack of knowledge and skills which could help them make healthy choices, and their
inability to access the appropriate services.
Objective: To assess the sexual practices and sexually transmitted infections among street
youths in Bahir Dar Town.
Methods: A cross sectional descriptive study was conducted in Bahir Dar town. Both qualitative
and quantitative study methods were used and interview using structured questionnaire and four
FGDs were used to collect qualitative data. The study subjects for the quantitative study were
selected by simple random sampling method after registering street youths on major streets in the
town. FGD participants will be selected by using snowball technique.
Results: Level of sexual activity was very high. Out of the surveyed 349 respondents 69.9%
(68.9% of male and 78.4 % of female) of respondents had had sexual intercourse at the age
15.37yrs (SD± 2.236), for male 15.41(SD± 2.236) and for female 15.07(SD± 2.137). Out of
those who started sex 93.5% of male and 86.2% of female had had sex in the last 12
months.Amongst who had ever had sex were asked about commercial and non-commercial
partner during the previous 12 months . According to their response in male respondents,
commercial partners were reported by 92.5% respondents and 30.3% had noncommercial
partners (yebetliji). Among those sexually active in the last 12 months they have more
commercial partners than noncommercial partners .In contrast to high Sexual activity, consistent
condom use is very low only 38.4% of the respondents use condom consistently. In bivariate and
multivariate analysis being in the age group between 15-19 is protective on participating in risky
sexual behavior (COR 0.166 and 95% CI0.048, 0.573) and AOR (0.161 and 95% CI
0.044,0.589) when we compared with age group 20-24.Among the surved street youths 32.2 %
of the respondents had either genital discharge or Ulcer or both(88 or 25.2 % have had genital
discharge and 46 or 13.2 % have had genital ulcer).In multivariate analysis being male is
protective for STI with AOR(0.140 95% CI 0.042,0.471) at p value <0.01.
