Abstract

Background: Risky sexual behavior is the description of the activity that will increase the probability that a person engaging in sexual activity with another person infected with a sexually transmitted infection.

Objectives: This study aimed to assess risky sexual behaviors and associated factor among adolescents in Arjo Gudetu town, western Ethiopia.

Methods: A community based cross-sectional study design was conducted from August 1-30/2019. A multi-stage sampling method was used to select study subjects. Data were cleaned and entered in to SPSS version 25 for analysis. Then descriptive statistics: mean, median and bivariate logistic regression was used to select candidate variable for final model. Factors associated with risky sexual behavior were identified using multivariate logistic regression.

Result: The risk sexual behavior in this study area was about 25.7%. About three fourth of adolescents had multiple sexual partner in the past 12 months. Adolescents attained only primary school were more likely to practice risky sexual behavior compared to those attained secondary school and above 2.036[AOR=2.036 (95% CI: 1.096- 3.784)]. Being male was positively associated with risky sexual practice compared to their female counterparts [AOR=1.517(1.308-1.867)].

Conclusion: Risky sexual practice among adolescent was high in this study area. Level of education and being male were factors identified to affect risky sexual practice among adolescent. Therefore, family, community, religious leaders should closely advice the adolescents and Information education communication should be promoted by health professionals; media coverage should be given to prevent risky sexual practices in advance. Further research need to be conducted to explore more about risky sexual behavior and associated factors in rural areas.

Keywords: Risky sexual behavior; Adolescence; Adolescent and multiple sexual partners