Background: Studies in Africa and elsewhere indicate that students of higher institutions are exposed to many risky behaviors including substance use, sexual coercion and unsafe sex which predispose them to STIs including HIV/AIDS. Little has been explored about the risky behaviors in the context of private higher education institutions in Ethiopia.
Thus, the present study assessed the risky sexual practices and associated factors for STIs/HIV infection among ALKAN University College students in Ethiopia.
Methods: Institution-based cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted from February to March 2014. A stratified sampling technique was used. Participants were sampled using the random sampling strategy. The dependent variable in this study was limited to “risky sexual behavior for STIs/HIV” (it included having more than one sexual partner or performing sexual intercourse with non-regular partner without condom, and having sex with commercial sex workers). The data was analyzed by bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis with SPSS version 20.
Results: Among 374 respondents, 160 (42.8%) reported that they had sexual experience (male: 74% vs. females: 26%). Majority of the study participants 220 (58.8%) were in the age range of 20–24 years with mean (± SD) age of 21.4 (± 1.7) years. The mean as (± SD) reported age at first sex was 17.6 (± 2.3) years.
Students who were sexually active before joining the college were two times risk to have multiple sexual partners compared to their counter parts (AOR = 2.15, 95% CI: 1.80–12.56). Students living in rented rooms were three times more likely to ever have multiple sexual partners as compared to those who were living with their parents (AOR = 3.82, 95% CI: 1.08–11.58). Students who watched pornography were two times more likely to ever have multiple sexual partners than those who didn’t watch it (AOR = 2.17, 95% CI: 1.82–5.93). Likewise, current substance users (including khat, alcohol and drug) were two times more likely to ever have multiple sexual partners as compared to non-users (AOR = 2.02, 95% CI: 1.74–12.32). Having history of sex with CSW was another predictor for multiple sexual partners, (AOR = 2.62, CI: 1.64–7.34). However, there is no statistical association between year of study, sex, childhood residence, and consistent condom use, and having multiple sexual partners.
Conclusions: The findings of this study showed that risky sexual behavior is rampant among the respondents. Therefore, interventions targeting on unsafe substance use, consistent condom use, and apt internet usage are recommended.