Over 50% of high school students in Addis Abeba had oral and anal sex in the past 12 months; Study

By T, Staffer of De Birhan Media

04-1-2011

A study conducted by two public health scientists on a sample of 3840 high school students in Addis Abeba found out that  51.6% (98) had oral sex and 57.1% (87) had anal sex in the past 12 months of the 5.4% and 4.3% of students that reported ever having oral sex and anal sex respectively. 

The Study published today (4 January 2011) on BMC Public Health 2012 Journal and researched by PhD candidates Amsale Cherie and Yemane Berhane has the objective of describing  oral and anal sex practices and identifying associated factors among high school youth in Addis Abeba, Ethiopia.  The researchers  used a multi-stage sampling procedure  to select a representative sample of school youth and data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire. A total of 3840 in school youth aged 15–24 were identified from 10 high schools. Of these 92.5% (3543) of students fully responded to the self administered questionnaire.

According to the research findings the overall proportion of  students that reported ever having oral sex was 5.4% (190),of which 13.2% (25)  initiated oral sex before the age of 10 and 44.2% (84) had the first oral sex without their consent.  The mean age at first oral sex among the study population was 14.6 years (SD = 2.1). Among  ever had oral sex; 51.6% (98) of the respondents had reported oral sex in the12 months preceding  the survey. Of these 61.2%(60) had more than one oral sex partners, 48.0% (47) received gift for the exchange of oral sex, only 12.2% (12) of them used condom every time they had oral sex,  and 80.6%(79) of students had intention to continue having oral sex in the future.  

Similarly, with regards to anal sex, 4.3% (154) of respondents reported  ever having anal sex. Of these 19.5% (30) had their first anal sex before the age of 10 and for the 44.2% (68) the first anal sex was not consensual. The mean age at first anal sex among the study population was 14.8 years (SD = 1.7). About 57.1% (87) of the students reported having anal sex in the last 12 months. Of these only 26.1% (23) used condom consistently during anal sex, and 51.1% (45) of the students reported having more than one anal sex partners, 52.3% (46) had received gift for the exchange of anal sex, and 82.9% (63) of respondents intend to continue  having anal intercourse in the future.  The predominant reasons reported by the respondents for practising anal sex for high school students in Addis Abeba were minimizing  the risk of pregnancy 92.1% (70), preserving virginity 85.5% (65), minimizing the risk of STIs  82.9% (63), and minimizing the risk of HIV transmission 77.6% (59). Multiple partnerships were reported by 61.2% of the respondents who had oral sex and 51.1% of students practicing anal sex. 

From the total respondents, 50.5% (1789) were females and 22.5% (796) were between the age group 15 and 16 years. The mean age of the study population was 17.6 years (SD = 1.5). Over all 55.4% (1964) of  the respondents lived with both parents. 

The study concluded that considerable proportion of adolescents had engaged in oral and anal sex practices. Multiple sexual partnerships were common while consistent condom use was low among high school students in Addis Abeba. 

"Unless measures are taken to change this misperception, oral and anal sex could become the source for the next wave of HIV and STIs epidemic. Therefore, the inclusion of relevant information on sexual  matters and prevention of STIs in the school curriculum is essential." the researchers recommend. 

To read the whole study please click Here.