Determinants of Risky Sexual Behaviour Among Senior High School Students, in La Dade-Kotopon Municipality

Abstract

This was a cross-sectional study that investigated the determinants of risky sexual behaviour among senior high school students in La Dade-Kotopon Municipality in the Greater Accra region of Ghana. A total of 422 adolescents between the ages of 14-19 years in two senior high schools were selected using a multi stage stratified random sampling technique with probability proportion to school size. An interviewer administered questionnaire was used to obtain data on determinants of risky sexual behaviour of the students. Quantitative data were obtained on their socio-demographic status, family structures, sexual and contraceptive history along with their source of information on sexuality, sexual reproductive health programmes in their schools. The data were processed and analysed using SPSS software version 16. Frequencies, chi square and logistic regression were used in the analyses. The median age at sexual debut was 16.0 (2.3) years. The sexually active were 29.4% of all respondents, of which 83.1% of them were engaged in higher risk sex. The proportions of higher risk sex by gender were 77.9% of the sexually active males, and 91.5% of the females. Logistic regression showed that religiousity was the only predictor of risky sexual behaviour. The main source of information on sexuality was non parental i.e. school teachers (34.7%). Only 9.5% of respondents were aware of youth friendly reproductive health services, although only 20.7% of those who were aware have actually utilised the services. Religiousity is an important predictor of risky sexual behaviour among senior high school adolescents in the area. Appropriate interventions are needed to curb the high proportion of higher risk sexual behaviour among the students.