Abstract:
Background: Early sexual debut is thought to increase the risk of engaging in risky sexual
behaviors like having multiple sexual partners, performing casual sex and having sex without the
use of protective methods. These risky sexual behaviors predispose youths to several sexual and
reproductive health problems like acquiring HIV infection, unwanted pregnancy and unsafe
abortion.
Objective: This study aimed to determine the prevalence and associated factors of early sexual
debut among preparatory school students in Gondar town North West Ethiopia.
Methods: School based Cross sectional study was conducted from October 20 朜ovember 30
/2018. A multistage cluster random sampling technique was used to draw 796 students.
Structured and pretested self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data. Descriptive
statistics, Binary logistic regression analyses were done. P-value < 0.05 was used to consider
significant variables.
Result: From a total of 796 students, 750 students complete the questionnaire giving a response
rate of 94.24%. Twenty percent of the respondents reported having had early sexual debut with
95%CI
Conclusion
The results of this study indicated that one fifth of students engaged in early sexual intercourse.
Lesson on sexual education, alcohol drinking, discussion on sexual issues with parents, school
connectedness were found significantly associated with early sexual debut. Sexual education
programs at earlier life, Parents training in a way that enables them to acquire their teens with the
necessary skill for sexual negotiation, promoting school connectedness and legislative restriction
on Sale of alcohol to adolescents may help to delay early sexual debut.
Key words: early sexual debut, preparatory students, Gondar
