The role of Socio Cultural factors on Early Sexual Initiation among youths in Doba Woreda
Creators: name: Begna, Mulu
Publisher: name: National Academic Digital Repository of Ethiopia
Year: 2016

description: Background: Early sexual initiation is having sexual intercourse before age of eighteen years. It increases the risk of unwanted pregnancies, maternal morbidity and mortality, and exposure to HIV and other STI infections. Little is known about the impact of socio-cultural factors on early sexual initiation. Knowing time at first sexual intercourse and associated factors, particularly focusing on socio cultural factors, is important to design effective program addressing the young people's problem through providing evidence-based information for AYRH strategy. Objective: the objective of the study is to assess age of sexual initiation and factors associated with it among youths (15-24) in Doba woreda. The study particularly explores socio cultural factors that have impacts on early sexual initiation. Methods: A community based cross-sectional study was conducted using both quantitative and qualitative methods. A total of 613 youth who were drawn using multistage stratified sampling method were interviewed between February 01 and 15, 2016. Data entry and analysis were done by using EPI Info and STATA version 12.1 softwares, respectively. Descriptive statics, bivariate analyses and multivariable analyses were carried out. Moreover, qualitative data was collected through Focus Group Discussions and key informant interviews to augment the result of quantitative data. Then content analysis was done by using Open code software. Result: The prevalence of early sexual initiation among youths in Doba woreda is 66.6%.The median ages of sexual initiation in this study was 17 years (range 15-18 years). Multivariable logistic regression analysis show that being female (AOR =4, 95%CI, 1.9-8.3), Youths with the age range between 15-19 years (AOR=3.9 95%CI, 1.1-13.5), Youths who shared bedroom with their father and mother during their adolescence (AOR=3.5 95%CI, 1.4-8.9) and Youths who smoked shisha (AOR=2.7 95%CI, 1.3-5.4) were identified as associated factors of early sexual initiation. A cultural play which is locally called "shaggoyyee" or "danci" is one of the factors that triggers youth for early sexual initiation. On the other hand a culture of preserving virginity before marriage in the community was found as a protective culture against early sexual initiation in the community. Regarding perception of youths about the consequence of early sexual initiation they mentioned unwanted pregnancy, unsafe abortion, STI and school drop out as the major negative consequences resulted due to early sex. Conclusion: This study showed that the prevalence of early sexual intercourse is very high. Gender (being female), young age (15-19 years), sharing bedroom with father and mother during adolescence period and smoking shisha were associated factors of early sexual initiation. Discussion with peers about sexual issue is found as a protective factor for early sexual initiation. In order to protect youths from early sexual initiation education should be provided for the community regarding harmful effect of substance use (such as shisha) through different Medias, churches and mosques.Young children and adolescents should have separated bed rooms from their father and mother so that visual and auditory privacy will be maintained.