research work on premarital sex

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Premarital sexual intercourse and associated factors among adolescent students in Debre-Markos town secondary and preparatory schools, north west Ethiopia, 2017

Geremew kindie behulu.

Department of Midwifery, College of Medicine and Health Science, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia

Kiber Temesgen Anteneh

Getie lake aynalem, associated data.

The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

To assess the magnitude and factors associated with premarital sexual intercourse among adolescent students of the secondary and preparatory school in Debre-Markos town, northwest Ethiopia, 2017.

Among secondary and preparatory school adolescent students, 31.3% reported pre-marital sexual intercourse. This shows that premarital sexual intercourse among secondary and preparatory school adolescents is high. Significantly associated factors were: being male (AOR = 1.9, 95% CI 1.21, 2.93), having pocket money (AOR = 3.1, 95% CI 2, 4.81), adolescents who did not discuss sexual issue with close friends (AOR = 8.6, 95% CI 5.27, 13.91) and peer pressure (AOR = 7.7, 95% CI 3.73, 15.69).

Introduction

Premarital sex is penetrative vaginal intercourse performed between couples before formal marriage [ 1 , 2 ]. World Health Organization (WHO) defines adolescent as persons between the age group of 10–19 years old [ 3 ]. Adolescence is the period of transmission from childhood to maturity and is characterized by spurt of physical, mental, emotional, social and psychosexual development [ 4 ].

Adolescents are a growing and larger segment of the population of developing countries and an estimated 1.2 billion young people in the world, 85% live in developing countries [ 5 ]. Nearly 85% of the world’s adolescent population live in developing countries and in some sub-Saharan countries, population below 15 years of age is five times greater than the population over 55 years of age [ 6 ].

The adolescent years are the time of rapid growth, exploration, and risk-taking. In many countries, an average of 29% of boys and 23% of girls are sexually active including premarital sex [ 7 ].

Many adolescents face pressures to use alcohol, cigarettes, or other drugs and to initiate sexual relationships at earlier ages, to put themselves at high risk for intentional and unintentional injuries and risky sexual behaviors [ 8 ]. Females, particularly adolescent girls may end up with unwanted pregnancies, abortions, teenage deliveries, and various complications of these including death. Moreover, the girls may drop out from school to look after their children, and in most cases, they become economically reliant on upon their parents [ 1 ].

Nearly 70% of premature deaths among adults can be linked to behaviors that were initiated during adolescence [ 9 ]. Unwanted pregnancy can be associated with higher likelihood of early motherhood, unsafe abortion, and other pregnancy-related complications [ 10 ].

Several studies in sub-Saharan Africa have also documented high and increasing premarital sexual activities among adolescents [ 8 ]. According to EDHS 2016, 13 percent of women age 15–19 in Ethiopia have begun childbearing [ 11 ]. In Amhara region, pre-marital sexual debut was reported as early as 12 to 13 years [ 10 ].

Studies have documented that early sexual initiators were more likely to report undesired consequences of sexual initiation such as teenage motherhood, not using a condom at first sex and sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Adolescents are also likely to have an intimate partner who is five or more years older and be involved in multiple sexual partnerships [ 12 ].

Even though some studies were conducted on this topic, most of them focused on only females [ 5 , 10 , 13 ], youth [ 14 , 15 ] and university students [ 7 , 8 ], there is a gap of including males, married females and adolescents. Therefore, this study tried to fill the above gaps.

Study design and setting

An institutional based cross-sectional study design was conducted among secondary and preparatory school adolescent students in Debre-Markos town from November 23–27, 2017. The town is located at about 295 km to the capital city of Ethiopia. Based on the 2007 national census conducted by the Central Statistical Agency of Ethiopia (CSA), this town has a total population of 62,497, of whom 29,921 were men. The majority Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity followers, with 97.03% reporting [ 16 ]. There are three secondary and two preparatory schools in the town.

Sample size and sampling procedure

A single population proportion formula was used to calculate the sample size of 624 by taking the following assumptions. From the previous study conducted in Jimma town on premarital sexual practice among school adolescents [ 17 ], 25.27%, 95% CI, 5% marginal error and n = ((Zα/2) 2 p (1 − p))/W 2 . Adding a 15% non-response rate and design effect of 2, the total sample size required was 624.

Multi-stage stratified sampling technique used to select adolescent students. All regular adolescent students (secondary and preparatory) attending class at the time of the survey in Debre-Markos secondary and preparatory school divided into different strata. Grade considered as strata. The number of adolescent students from each grade level and sections according to their sex identified by using the name and sex list of each section.

Operational definitions

Age at initial sexual contact is age at first intercourse (vaginal–penile penetration).

Early sexual initiation was taken as an experience of first intercourse before 18 years of age.

Sexually active A student who had a penetrative sexual intercourse (vaginal) at least once prior to the study.

Peer pressure when the individual said yes/no to question saying “did your friend initiate you to do sex?” [ 18 ].

Pocket money when the individual said yes/no to question saying “did you have pocket money?” [ 19 ].

Data collection instrument and process

Data were collected using a semi-structured, pre-tested and self-administered questionnaire adapted from the literatures. The data collection tool was prepared in English and then translated into local language Amharic and finally returned to English by English language expertise. Four midwives were involved in the data collection process.

Appropriate information and instructions were given on the objective, the relevance of the study, confidentiality of information, respondent’s rights, informed consent, and technique of data collection and 1-day training was given to data collectors and the supervisor on data collection. Before the actual data collection, pre-test was done on 5% of students in Dejen secondary and preparatory school which was out of the study setting but nearby. The collected data checked for completeness and clarity by principal investigator and supervisor. Privacy and confidentiality of the respondents were maintained throughout the data collection period.

Data analysis

Data coded and entered into a computer using Epi info version 7.2.0.1 and checked for completeness and transferred to SPSS version 20 for analysis. Descriptive statistics like frequencies, percentage, proportion and mean computed. Bi-variate logistic regression used to identify variables that crudely associated and variables with p-values less than or equal to 0.05 fitted to multiple logistic regression. Then association between dependent and independent variables was assessed using adjusted odds ratio (AOR), 95% CI and p value of ≤ 0.05 considered statistically significant.

Socio-demographic characteristics

From the selected 624 school adolescents, a total of 600, adolescents aged between 10 and 19 completed the questionnaire while 24 refused to participate in the study, giving a response rate of 96.15%. Three hundred four (50.7%) of the respondents were females. The mean age was 17.31 years. The minimum and maximum ages were 15 and 18 years respectively. Five hundred eighty-three (97.2%) were Amhara in ethnicity (Table  1 ).

Table 1

Socio-demographic characteristics of adolescent students in Debre-Markos secondary and preparatory schools, from Nov. 23–27, 2017 (n = 600)

Parental characteristics

From the total participants, three-hundred thirty three (55.4%) responded that they were living with their mothers and fathers, 583 (97.2%) and 552 (92%) of respondents reported that their mothers and fathers were alive respectively. Two hundred sixty-four (44.3%) reported that they did not know their parents’ income and 263 (44.1%) participants responded this as greater than 53.6 USA dollars (Table  2 ).

Table 2

Parental characteristics of adolescent students in Debre-Markos secondary and preparatory school from Nov. 23–27, 2017 (n = 600)

b Whose mother died

Habits of the respondents

Greater than two third, 413 (68.8%) of the participants responded that they were not alcohol users but 62 (10.3%) reported that they were khat users.

Sexual behavior of respondents

Two hundred forty seven (41.2%) of the participants responded that they usually watch films and magazines having sexual contents and nearly one third, 188 (31.3%) of the whole participants responded that they had girl/boyfriends and practiced sexual intercourse.

Reproductive health

From the total respondents, only 95 (15.8%) participants responded that they had sexual issue discussion with their parents. Three hundred seventeen (52.8) responded that they had sexual issue discussion with their close friends and 72 (12%) were pressured to have sexual intercourse.

Associated factors of premarital sexual a intercourse

Crudely associated variables were: sex, current residence, pocket money, with whom usually live, mother alive, father alive, place of parent’s live, discussion the sexual issue with close friends and peer pressure.

Independently and positively associated variables in adjusted analysis were: being male, having pocket money, adolescents who did not discuss the sexual issue with close friends and Peer pressure (Table  3 ).

Table 3

Bivariable and multivariable analysis of factors associated with premarital d sexual intercourse among adolescent students in Debre-Markos secondary and preparatory school from Nov. 23–27, 2017 (n = 600)

* p-value < 0.05, ** p-value < 0.01 and *** p-value < 0.001

Proportion of adolescents who had premarital sex was 31.3%, 95% CI (27.3, 34.8). It was in line with the study from Bahir-Dar, 30.8% [ 10 ], Maichew, 29.3% [ 5 ], Gondar and Meteme, 31.9% [ 13 ].

But this study’s finding was lower than the study from Nepal, 36.5% [ 20 ]. This disparity could be justified by the difference in a background of the study participants and variation in the study areas.

Also, this study’s finding was higher than a study from Shendi, 19% [ 14 ], Shire-Endasellassie, 19% [ 9 ], Alamata, 21.1% [ 21 ] and Jimma, 25.3% [ 17 ]. This could be explained by decrement of discussion about reproductive health risks and rise of peer pressure.

One of the predictor variables in this study was sex. It shows that male students were more engaged for premarital sexual intercourse (AOR = 1.9, 95% CI 1.21, 2.9). It was consistent with studies from Yabello [ 15 ], Bahir Dar [ 22 ] and Malaysia [ 23 ]. It might be due to males have more freedom in sexual engagement than females.

The other variable that was positively associated with premarital sexual intercourse was having pocket money. It triggers adolescent student to have sexual intercourse (AOR = 3, 95% CI 1.9, 4.8). It was similar with the studies from Arba Minch [ 24 ] and Jimma [ 19 ]. It could be due to financially equipped students are likely to drink alcohol, to date their opposite friends and to buy the porn films that all can trigger for sexual intercourse.

And also, the other positive predicator variable for premarital sexual intercourse was having discussions with close friends. Those who did not have discussions with their close friends were more engaged with premarital sexual intercourse (AOR = 8.6, 95% CI 5.28, 13.9). It could be explained as those who have discussions are likely to be knowledgeable about premarital sexual intercourse risks including HIV transmission which can make adolescent students to abstain from sexual intercourse.

The additional positive predictor variable for premarital sexual intercourse was peer pressure. Those who were pressurized by their friends were more engaged with premarital sexual intercourse (AOR = 7.7, 95% CI 3.7, 15.7). It was consistent with studies from Bahir-Dar [ 10 ], Maichew [ 5 ], Alamata [ 21 ], Gondar and Metema [ 13 ]. It could be due to the fact that peers in adolescents is an important factor to influence personality and behavior changes.

Limitations

It was good if the data collection tools were triangulated with the qualitative data collection techniques like in-depth interview.

Authors’ contributions

GKB brought the idea. GKB, KTA and GLA equally contributed on proposal development, data collection process, data management and analysis, and write up. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Acknowledgements

We would like thank the University of Gondar, a College of the Health Science, School of Midwifery for approving the topic, assigning advisors and giving ethical clearance and Amhara Regional Health Bureau for their financial support for this study. We want to thank study participants for their time and willingness to participate, data collectors and supervisors for their commitment. Our appreciation also extended for Debre-Markos education bureau for their cooperativeness and provision of supportive letters.

Competing interests

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Availability of data and materials

Consent for publication.

Not applicable because there are no individually detailed data, videos or images.

Ethics approval and consent to participate

Ethical clearance obtained from institutional reviewers board of University of Gondar, College of Medicine and Health Science, Department of Midwifery. A formal letter submitted to Debre-Markos educational office to receive their support. Support letters were received from the educational office. These letters were submitted to schools to get permission. And then, permission letters were obtained from school directors. Study participants and the authorized representatives who were parents or guardians (for those participants whose age group was from 15 to 17 years) were informed about the purpose of the study and a written consent was taken from each participants and the authorized representative parents or guardians (with assent from each participants who were incapable of giving an informed consent) before the collection. Moreover, all the study participants were told their right to refuse at any time. Furthermore, the study participants assured for the attainment of confidentiality for the information obtained from them and the information they gave not contain their names or any identifiers which refer to them.

The article was not funded.

Publisher’s Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Abbreviations

Contributor Information

Geremew Kindie Behulu, Email: moc.liamg@eidnikwemereg .

Kiber Temesgen Anteneh, Email: moc.liamg@usomrebik .

Getie Lake Aynalem, Email: moc.liamg@45gnivilrehtom .

Premarital Sex, Young People’s

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Adolescents’ sexual relationships ; Young people’s premarital sexual relationships ; Young people’s sexual relationships

“Young people” is used variably to refer to a wide range of ages, generally older children and/or young adults. “Young people” are defined by the World Health Organization as those between 10 and 24 years of age. “Sex” as a noun refers to being female or male, but here it is used as an adjective to refer to a kind of personal interaction: sexual intercourse. While there are a wide range of sexual activities, a “sexual relationship” between women and men generally means that these activities include penetrative vaginal sexual intercourse. A sexual relationship between people of the same sex does not have such specific behavioral implications. “Premarital sex” means sexual intercourse before marriage, whether marriage with that sexual partner or anyone else. Although child sexual abuse is technically premarital sex, it is not covered in this entry.

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Premarital sexual practice and associated factors among high school youths in Debretabor town, South Gondar zone, North West Ethiopia, 2017

• Wondmnew Lakew Arega 1 ,
• Taye Abuhay Zewale 2 &
• Kassawmar Angaw Bogale 3  

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Premarital sex is voluntary sexual intercourse between unmarried persons. Prevalence and factors associated with premarital sexual practice in the study area are lacking. Thus, the aims of this study were to determine the prevalence and to identify factors associated with premarital sexual practice among Debretabor high school youths.

The prevalence of premarital sex among Debretabor town high school youths was 22.5% of which 63.9% of them were males. Among those high school youths, the majority (60.2%) had their first sexual intercourse at the age of 15–19 years. The main reason for initiation of sexual intercourse was due to fell in love which accounts 48.1%, followed by sexual desire 22.2%. Predictors that are risk for premarital sex were youths who did not attend religious education [AOR = 7.4, 95% CI (3.32, 16.43)], having boy or girl friends [AOR = 9.66, 95% CI (4.80, 19.43)], drinking alcohol every day [AOR = 9.43, 95% CI (2.86, 31.14)] and less than twice a week [AOR = 2.52, 95% CI (1.22, 5.21)], watching pornography film [AOR = 5.15, 95% CI (2.56, 10.37)] and youths came from rural residing families [AOR = 0.51, 95% CI (0.27, 0.96)].

Introduction

Youths are in a state of rapid physical and psychological change. They have curiosity and urge to experience new phenomena [ 1 ]. Nevertheless, youths are exposed to different circumstance like fears, worries and different desires, they feel shame to get advice and guidance from their parents and elders [ 2 ]. Over a life cycle approach, youths and their communities need to know about reproductive health so that, they can make informed decisions about their reproductive health and sexuality [ 3 , 4 ]. Premarital sex, defined as voluntary sexual intercourse between unmarried persons, is increasing worldwide [ 5 ]. It is unsafe because, most youths have no enough awareness on how to prevent and how to get guidance services on reproductive anatomy, physiology, sexually transmitted infection (STI), and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) [ 6 , 7 ]. As a result, they are exposed to serious problems including premarital sex with its consequences and emotional scar [ 8 , 9 ].

Though, schools are institutions where sufficient information and formal educations are provided to youths, premarital sexual practice among high school youths have been increased worldwide [ 10 ]. Globally, 35.3 million people live with HIV/AIDS of which youths account 2.1 million. Among 2.3 million new HIV infections, youths (15–24 years) account more than half [ 7 ].

Illegal abortions, risk of HIV infections and school dropout are the bad consequences of pre-marital sex in sub-Saharan Africa [ 11 ]. Up to 25% of 15–19 years, old youth’s exercised sex before age 15. In Ethiopia, the prevalence of premarital sex is increasing [ 12 , 13 , 14 ]. A study conducted in Eastern part of Ethiopia and Lalibela Town reported that above one-fourth of the school youths were exposed to premarital sex [ 12 , 15 ]. Another study which is done in west Shoa Zone reported that about 60% of high school youths were exercised premarital sex [ 9 ]. Different scholars identified inconsistent factors which were positively or negatively associated with premarital sexual practice. Some of these factors includes age of students, sex, residence, educational level, peer pressure, having pocket money, substance use, alcohol drink, watching pornography movie, living arrangement, discussion with parents about sexual issues, having peers who are experienced sex and fall in love and access religious and life skill education [ 9 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 ].

According to Debretabor district health office report sexually transmitted diseases, abortion and unwanted pregnancy are high in the study area among youths [ 18 ]. However, prevalence of premarital sexual practice and its associated factors among high school youths (grade 9th to grade 12th) in the study area was not dealt yet. Thus, this study aimed to determine premarital sexual practices and associated factors among high school youths in Debretabor town, south Gondar, Ethiopia.

Study design and setting

School based cross-sectional study design was conducted from September 18 to October 16, 2017, among high school youths in Debretabor town, South Gondar zone, Ethiopia. Debretabor town is located at 667 km from Addis Ababa, capital city of Ethiopia and has three high schools. The total numbers of high school youths in the study area by the year 2017 were 8892 (5220 females and 3672 males) [ 18 ].

Source population

The source population was all high school youths who were residing in Debretabor town and its surrounding rural Kebeles.

Study population

The study population was all high-school youths aged 15 to 24 years that were enrolled as a regular day-time student in 2017.

Inclusion criteria

All secondary school youths aged 15–24 attending regular class in Debretabor town during data collection period were included in the study.

Exclusion criterion

Married high school youths were excluded.

Sample size determination

Sample size was calculated using a single population proportion formula designated as \({\text{n}} = \frac{{(Z_{\alpha /2)}^{2} p\left( {1 - p} \right)}}{{d^{2} }}\) based on the assumptions of P -value = 0.25 which was the proportion of premarital sex among in-school youths in Jimma [ 19 ], a 95% confidence level, 4% margin of error (d) and 10% non-response rate. Accordingly, the total sample size calculated was 497.

Sampling procedure

All the high schools in the town were included in the study, and total sample size was proportionally allocated to each school. The lists of youths were obtained from the respective school registrar. Then, the study participants from each school were selected by computer generated simple random sampling technique after proportional allocation to their grade level.

Data collection

Pre-tested, self-administered structured Amharic (local language) questionnaire was used to collect the data. The questionnaire was pre-tested on 10% of the study participants at Alem-ber high school, which has the same setup to the study area, found in South Gondar zone. The questionnaire was amended according to the finding in the pretest before the distributions of final questionnaires. Training was given for data collectors and supervisors. Before the participants filled the questionnaires, the trained data collector gave orientation to youths regarding the aim of the study, the content of the questionnaire, the issue of confidentiality and respondents rights. Moreover, trained data collectors were involved in taking consents from participants and gathering filled questionnaires. However, data collectors were not present when the participants were filling the questionnaire.

The study used premarital sex practice as dependent variable and Socio-demographic Characteristics of youths and parents (age, sex, education level, religion, pocket money living arrangement, parental education, parental occupation, sexual issue discussion with parents), risk behavior and peer pressure (chat chewing, alcohol drinking, cigarette smoking, watching pornography, Peer friend initiation of sex) and history of partner hood, demand for condom utilization (number of partners, having the boy/girlfriend, condom utilization) as independent variable.

Data management and analysis

The data were entered using Epi-info version 7.2.1 and exported to SPSS version 23 for analysis. Descriptive statistics like frequency, percentage and standard deviation was computed. Binary logistics regression model was applied to identify determinant factors related premarital sexual practice. Variables with P value less than 0.25 on bi-variate analysis were entered to multi-variate analysis. 95% confidence interval was used to identify associated factors in multi-variable binary logistic regression model. Hosmer–Lemeshow goodness of the model fit was checked and analysis was done by entering procedure.

Socio-demographic characteristics of the respondents

Four hundred eighty high school youths were filled the questionnaire making a response rate of 96.6%. From the total respondents, more than half (53.8%) of them were females. Majority (71.2%) youths age were from 15 to 19 years. The average age and standard deviation of respondents were 17 and 1.29 years respectively. Larger proportion (35.8%) of the participants were grade nine students. The majority (97.5%) of the respondents were Orthodox Christians. Only 23.3% of in school youths had pocket money, about 89% of youths were living with their parents and attending religious services. Moreover, above half (61%) of the youths didn’t discuss about sexual issues with their parents (Table  1 ).

Sexual characteristics and risk behavior of respondents

From all respondents, 22.5% have had premarital sexual intercourse at the time of the survey, of which 63.9% were males and 60.2% had their first sexual intercourse at the age of 15–19 years. The main reason for initiation of sexual intercourse was due to fell in love which accounts 48.1%, followed by sexual desire 22.2%.

Concerning the number of sexual partners, majority (84.3%) of students have had sex with one partner and about 58% of the them were used condom during sexual intercourse. Coming to risky behavior, 28.1% of the youths drunk alcohol, 16.2% watched pornography and 2.7% chewed khat. About 61% of youths who watched pornography film were exposed to premarital sex (Table  2 ).

Factors associated with premarital sexual practice among high school youths in Debretabor town, 2017

The Logistic regression analysis showed that premarital sexual practice among youths who did not attend religious education was 7.4 times more likely exposed to premarital sex as compared to the counterpart [AOR = 7.4, 95% CI (3.32, 16.43)]. Similarly, youths who had a boy or a girl friend were 9.66 times more likely to start premarital sex than those who didn’t have a boy or a girl [AOR = 9.66, 95% CI (4.80, 19.43)]. Youths who were drinking alcohol every day and less than twice a week were 9.43 times [AOR = 9.43, 95% CI (2.86, 31.14)] and 2.52 times [AOR = 2.52, 95% CI (1.22, 5.21)] more likely engaged in premarital sex practice respectively as compared to those who did not drink alcohol. Students who watched pornography film were 5.15 times more likely practiced premarital sex as compared to those who didn’t watch pornography film [AOR = 5.15, 95% CI (2.56, 10.37)]. But it was found to be less likely among urban youths resident family as compared with youths who came from rural resident families (Table  3 ).

Premarital sexual practice of high school youths in this study was 22.5% (CI: 19.0, 26.5). This finding was in line with a study conducted in Nekemtie town (21.5%) [ 20 ], in Jimma (21%) [ 19 ] and school youths in Alamata (21.1%) [ 21 ]. However, it was higher than in Coast Province, Kenya youths (14.9%) [ 22 ], and Robit high school youths (14.9%) [ 10 ]. The difference might be as a result of sample size, coast province; Kenya used existing data available from Kenya Global School Based Health Survey (GSHS) which was national study. So it could be more precise as compared with this study. In addition, there might be socio-cultural differences in community among study areas.

But this finding was lower than in-school youths in Ghana (42%) [ 23 ], in Jimma (28.5%) [ 24 ] in Eastern Ethiopia (24.8%) [ 12 ] and in Debremarkos high school youths (37.5% [ 25 ]. The variation may be due to difference in periods of the study (2011–2014), showing a changing and improving trend in easiness of reporting sexual matters and increasing premarital sexual awareness from time to time [ 7 , 26 ]. The difference might also be due to variations on the prevalence of risky sexual behavior.

This study also found that those youths who didn’t attend religious education were more likely exposed to premarital sex as compared with their counter parts. It is in agreement with studies conducted in Bahir Dar City [ 14 ] and Mizan Aman [ 27 ]. The possible reason could be religious institutions strongly thought youths to be abstained until marriage.

High School youths who have a boyfriend or girlfriend were more likely to have premarital sexual intercourse than those who don’t. There were similar reports in Alamata [ 28 ], and Nekemt towns [ 20 ]. This could be due to the pressure from their boy/girl friend to have sexual practice.

Youths who drunk alcohol were engaged in premarital sexual practice as compared to their counterparts. This finding is the same as the studies done in South West [ 27 ] and Western Ethiopia [ 29 ]. The possible explanation might be, when youths drink alcohol, his/her ability of self-controlling decrease and this may expose to premarital sex.

Students who watched pornography film were more likely practiced premarital sex as compared to those who didn’t. There is similar finding in Shendi Town [ 13 ] and Northern Ethiopia [ 7 ]. The possible reason could be pornography film leads youths physiological and psychological motive for sexual intercourse.

Youths from rural family residents were more exposed to premarital sex urban youths. This is not in agreement with other studies [ 7 , 21 , 28 , 30 , 31 ]. This difference might be due to low parental control of rural youths as they lived with rented rooms, exposed to exercising sexual issues freely.

Conclusions

Significant numbers of high school youths were engaged in sexual practice before marriage. Not attending religious education, have a boy/girlfriend, watching pornography film, alcohol drinkers and came from rural residing families were identified risk factors. So, the school community and respective health sector need to establish and strengthen school health program and school clubs to give awareness about identified risks of premarital sex. In addition family should link their youths to religious education in parallel to formal school education.

Limitation of the study

Since the nature of this study is sensitive, reporting errors and biases can’t be controlled. In addition as this study used only quantitative data, the behavioral related information might be missed. Since the questionnaire was self-administered, lack of control over the responses rate, no control over who filled the questionnaires and questions may be miss-understood so that the true impression of the participants may not be gathered.

Availability of data and materials

All the data sets used for this study are available from the corresponding author and can be given with a reasonable request.

Abbreviations

Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome

adjusted odds ratio

confidence interval

Ethiopian calendar

Demographic Health Survey

Ethiopia Demographic Health Survey

standard deviation

Bachelor of Science

Human Immunodeficiency Virus

Masters of Public Health

Statistical Package for Social Science

sexually transmitted infection

World Health Organization

Global School Based Health Survey

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Acknowledgements

The researchers would like to thank Bahir-Dar University, College of Medicine and health Science for permitting to conduct this research and Debretabor town education offices and the respective staffs for providing the required information on time and their cooperativeness for the study. At last but not least, our gratefulness thanks go to the data collectors and the study participants.

Not applicable, there was no sources of funding for this study.

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WLA conceptualization of the study, designed the study, collected data, drafts the analysis, interpreted the data and drafts the manuscript. TAZ designs the work, enter the data and analyze using software, interpretation of results as well as critical review of the manuscript. KAB Participated in design the study, drafting the manuscript and subsequent review of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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The study was approved by the Institutional Review Board (IRB) of College of Medicine and Health Sciences at Bahir Dar University with reference number EPB/110/2017. Written permission letter was obtained from all concerned authorities. Written consents from parents of school youths were collected and verbal consent from each participant was obtained after explaining the purpose of the study. The right of participants to refuse or not to respond to questions if, they don’t feel comfortable with or discontinue participation at any time was ensured. Confidentiality was kept at each step of the data collection.

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Arega, W.L., Zewale, T.A. & Bogale, K.A. Premarital sexual practice and associated factors among high school youths in Debretabor town, South Gondar zone, North West Ethiopia, 2017. BMC Res Notes 12 , 314 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13104-019-4348-3

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Received : 11 February 2019

Accepted : 29 May 2019

Published : 03 June 2019

DOI : https://doi.org/10.1186/s13104-019-4348-3

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