Early Sexual Debut and Associated Factors among High School Students in Kindo Koysha Distric, Wolayta Zone, Southern Ethiopia

Abstract

Background: Early Sexual debut during adolescent period has several potential impacts on sexual and reproductive health of adolescents. Sexual interest peaks around puberty and continues through adolescence. The adolescent sexual interest is motivated by a number of factors, including physiologic changes, nutritional and social factors, peer influences, and rehearsal for identity and adult gender roles

Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted in Kindo Koyisha district, Wolaita Zone, Sothern Ethiopia. About 508 students were selected to be enrolled in this study.

The Data were analyzed by using SPSS version 20. Both bivariable and multivariable logistic regression analysis were done. Multi-colinearity tests were conducted using variance inflation factor (VIF<10) and tolerance (>0.1) as cutoff. Hosmer and Lemeshew goodness of fit test was used to check for model fitness. Normality tests were done for continuous data. Variables with p<0.05 in multivariable regression were considered as statistically significant. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the magnitude and associated factors of early sexual debut among high school and preparatory students in Kindo Koyisha district Wolaita zone southern Ethiopia.

Result: This study revealed that 152 (30.3%), (95% CI= 26.30%-34.38%) of respondents were involved in early sexual debut. Factors associated with early sexual debut were grade  AOR 2.6[1.32-5.13], marital status AOR 0.10[0.049-0.29], watching porn media AOR 1.72[1.01-2.94], having boy/girlfriend AOR 2.16[1.38-3.40], not discussing sexual and reproductive health issues with parents AOR 2.91[1.74-4.89].