Risky sexual behavior and associated factors among adolescents at high schools in Aksum town, Tigray, Ethiopia: A cross-sectional study

Abstract Background: World Health Organization has documented many health risks and complications secondary to unprotected sexual activity among adolescents. Even though the impact of risky sexual practice on the general health of adolescents is enormous, little attention has been given on identification and intervention plans. Therefore, the aim of this study was to find magnitude of risky sexual behavior and associated factors among adolescents in high schools at Aksum town, Tigray, Ethiopia. Methods: we conducted a facility-based cross-sectional study at Aksum town. A systematic random sampling technique was applied. Data was collected with face to face interview and analyzed using statistical package for social science version 22. we have done bivariate and multivariate logistic regression. Adjusted Odds ratio at a p-value <0.05 with 95% confidence interval was taken to declare statistical significance. Result: A total of 644 students were participated with a response rate of 97.7%. Prevalence of risky sexual behavior was found to be 17.2%. Factors like poor social support [AOR=5.59, 95% CI: 2.71-11.53], living out of family [AOR=1.93, 95% CI: 1.21-3.07], experiencing parental neglect [AOR=1.87, 95% CI: 1.18-2.94] and drinking alcohol [AOR=2.55, 95% CI: 1.55-4.20] were statistically associated with risky sexual behavior. Conclusion: An alarming proportion of adolescent students have participated in risky sexual behavior. This can significantly affect health quality in the community and the country at large. Factors, like having poor social support, living out of the family, experiencing parental neglect and using alcoholic beverages are risk factors that increase the odds of risky sexual behavior among adolescent students.