Risky sexual behavior among university students who attended/did not attend HIV/AIDS, sexual, and reproductive health and life skill course: a comparative cross-sectional study

Abstract

Introduction Risky sexual behavior is vast reproductive health problem among university students in Ethiopia. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), sexual and reproductive health and life skill course has been provided to university students to reduce sexual and reproductive health challenges. The present study aimed to assess and compare risky sexual behavior and associated factors among university students who attended and did not attend the course in Northeast Ethiopia. Material and methods Institutional-based comparative cross-sectional study was conducted among a total of 691 students. A pre-tested structured questionnaire was used to collect data. Bivariable and multi­variable binary logistic regression were applied. Adjusted odds ratio with 95% confidence interval was used to measure the strength of association. Results The overall prevalence of risky sexual behavior among participants was 75.1% (95% CI: 68.3-81.3%). The prevalence of risky sexual behavior among students who attended and did not attend HIV/AIDS, sexual and reproductive health and life skill course was 55.7% and 88.6%, respectively. Being male (AOR = 7.39; 95% CI: 2.78-19.68%), having good knowledge on HIV/AIDS (AOR = 0.29; 95% CI: 0.12-0.73%), and attending the course (AOR = 0.18; 95% CI: 0.07-0.43%) had significant association with risky sexual behavior. Conclusions The prevalence of risky sexual behavior is high. The prevalence of risky sexual behavior among students who did not attend the course is higher than that of students who attended the course. Being male, having good knowledge on HIV/AIDS, and attending HIV/AIDS, sexual and reproductive health and life skill course are the factors associated with risky sexual behavior. Efforts should be made to incorporate the course into universities curriculum.