Sexual Experience and their Correlates among Jigjiga University Students

Back ground The removal of discussion on sexual matters from the control of the community resulted in individual decisions about when, where, with whom and for what purpose to have sexual intercourse. This kind of decision make Students in higher learning institutions vulnerable to many sexual and reproductive health problems such as unwanted pregnancy, complications of unsafe abortion ,sexually transmitted infections , prevailing HIV/AIDS pandemic etc. These problems may be common among Jigjiga University students since there is lack of proper counseling and other reproductive health services. Previous studies done on predictors of sexual experience were limited to a narrow range of socio-demographic variables and individual behavior, which have small or modest effect on behaviors. Objective The aim of this study was to assess sexual experience and their correlates among unmarried youth in Jigjiga University. Method A cross sectional quantitative study design was used to study sexual experience and their correlates among 730 unmarried Jigjiga university students. The data analysis methods used were, Univariate for frequencies, bivariate analysis to see association between independent and dependent variables and multiple logistic regression(using SPSS version 16) to see the independent effect of selected variables on sexual activity of students. Results Three hundred seven (46.6%) of all students reported that they have had sexual experience. Watching pornographic films, having boy/girl friend, peer pressure, having a few and many friends who ever had sexual intercourse, and having positive/permissive attitude to teenage sex are variables which were significantly associated with sexual experience of students. Conclusion The study revealed that watching pornographic films was the strongest predictor of sexual activity of students. Therefore the government and other stake holders should give due emphasis in educating youth on harmful sides of watching SEM"s and creating strong control mechanisms on ways of its transmission.