BMC Public Health 2008, 8:136 http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2458/8/136 a:List of variables and how they were measured: demographic and community factors Table 1: Variable Demographic factors Age Sex (gender) Educational attainment Literacy in English language Economic status Community factors Location Region Media exposure Variable Psychosocial factors Religiosity Alcohol use Attitude toward premarital sex Family planning accessibility Family planning attitudes • Use of FP can lead to infertility Condom norm b: List of variables and how they were measured: psychosocial factors Items Measurement* Age at last birthday Sex of the respondent Did you attend any school? If yes, what is the highest level of school you attended? What languages can you read with understanding? Type of dwelling structure Which of these items do you have in your household? (list included household goods such as fridge, radio, television, fan, car, and selected agricultural assets such as cows and goats) What is your main source of water for domestic use? What is your main method for sewage disposal? Rural or urban locality as designated by the National Population Commission State of resident of the respondent at the time of data collection, classified into one of the six national geo-political zones – North- Central, North East, North West, South East, South South, South West How often do you listen to radio: every day, almost every day, at least once a week, less than once a week or not at all? How often do you watch television: every day, almost every day, at least once a week, less than once a week or not at all? Continuous variable Dichotomous (male, female) Discrete: (none, primary, secondary/higher) Dichotomous (English, others) Discrete: Wealth index scale tertiles (high, middle, low) Dichotomous (rural, urban) Dichotomous (North, South) Dichotomous (every day or almost every day, others) Dichotomous (every day or almost every day, others) Items Measurement* How important is religion to you in helping you deal with problems? How often do you attend religious congregational services? During the last 4 weeks how often have you had drinks containing alcohol? Do you think that there is a need for young persons to delay the age at which they start sex? Is (each of the following types of contraceptives – daily oral pills, after sex oral pills/emergency contraception, injectable contraceptives, IUD/Coil) affordable? Is (each of the following types of contraceptives – daily oral pills, after sex oral pills/emergency contraception, injectable contraceptives, IUD/Coil) easy to obtain? Do you agree or disagree with the following statements: • Family planning (FP) encourages women to be promiscuous • FP encourages young people to be loose • Condoms encourage male infidelity • FP cause cancer or other diseases Do you think the following support or do not support young people using condoms to protect themselves from HIV and STIs if they are sexually active? • Relatives • Community leaders • Parents • Friends • Religious leaders • Other young persons Dichotomous (very important, others) Dichotomous (at least once a week, less than once weekly). Dichotomous (had alcoholic drinks at least once, no drink at all) Dichotomous (yes, no) Scale Scale Scale Page 4 of 14 (page number not for citation purposes)