Prevalence of Premarital Sexual Practice and Associated Factors among Adolescents of Jimma Preparatory School Oromia Region, South West Ethiopia

Background: Sexual activities among adolescent have been reported to be increasing worldwide. Several studies in Sub-Saharan Africa have also documented increasing premarital sexual activities among adolescents. Objective: To assess the prevalence of premarital sexual practice and associated factors among adolescent of Jimma preparatory school, Jimma zone, south west Ethiopia. Methods: Cross-sectional study was conducted in Jimma preparatory school from Feb 1-27, 2014. Simple random sampling was used. Data was collected through self- administered questionnaire and analyzed using frequency, percentage and chi-square. The study was conducted till June, 2014. Result: In this study a total of 352 students give their response to the questions asked, and the response rate was 92.5%. Of this 197 (56%) males and 157 (44%) female adolescents were participated in the study. About 25% of the participants had had premarital sex at the time of survey. Among those adolescents who had had premarital sexual intercourse the main reason for initiation was falling in love which accounted for 47.7%. This study also revealed age (x2 = 12.2, p < 0.001), place of residency at (x2 = 23.1, p < 0.001), attending religious activity at (x2 = 59.4, p < 0.0002), mothers’ literacy at (x2 = 18.2, p < 0.001) and fathers, literacy at (x2 = 25.5, p< 0.001) were associated with their involvement in premarital sexual practice. Conclusion and Recommendation: Considerable amount of school adolescents had started premarital sexual activity that may predispose them to different sexual and reproductive health problem. Alcohol drinking, seeing sexual related film, peer influence, etc. were found to be contributing factor to the practice. Therefore un integrated effort needs to be initiated to address such adolescents’ sexual and reproductive health problems through establishing and strengthening school anti HIV/AIDS clubs, sensitizing parents, community members and the public focusing on parent-child communication and discussion on sex related issues.