Abstract:
Background: Adolescent risky sexual behavior and its consequences are serious problems
affecting all the nations negatively and continued to be public health concern. Emotional climate
in which parents raise their children may influence adolescent‟s reproductive and sexual health.
The factors with parenting perspective were inadequately explored in sub-Saharan Africa and
study area as well.
Objectives: The main objective of this study was to assess risky sexual behaviors and associated
factor among adolescent at Ambo town, Oromia, Ethiopia.
Methods: Community based cross-sectional study supplemented with qualitative was employed
among 544 adolescents in Ambo town from September 12th to October 10th, 2022. Multistage
sampling technique was used to get the required sample. Study subject were selected using
systematic random sampling technique. Purposive sampling was used for Indepth interview. Data
were collected via face to face interview using structured questionnaire. The collected data were
entered in to EpiData version 4.6 and exported to Statistical Package for Social Science version
23.0 for statistical analysis. Variables with P-values< 0.2 in Bivariable logistic regression were
selected as candidates for multivariable logistic regressions to control confounding. Statistically
significant association of variables was declared by Adjusted Odds ratios with its 95% CI and p
value of< 0.05. Qualitative data were analyzed using thematic analysis.
Result: More than two thirds, 67.3% (103) with (95% CI: 60.1-74.5) were practiced at least one
of RSB among sexually active. Authoritative parenting (AOR =0.013, 95% CI: (0.001-0.2),
perceived connectedness (AOR =0.26, 95% CI: (0.08- 0.8), and communicating reproductive
health topics (AOR = 0.27, 95% CI 0.05-0.6), were associated with lower odds of engaging in
risky sexual behaviors when compared with their counterpart. In in-depth interview: closeness
between parent and control were factor influence adolescent‟s sexual behaviour.
Conclusion and recommendation: majority of sexually active adolescents were involved in
risky sexual behavior. Authoritative parenting style, communicate sexual and reproductive topics
and connectedness between parent and adolescents were significantly associated toward reducing
risk sexual practice. Therefore, intervention could be targeted toward identified protective factor
by focusing on awareness creation for parents, to reduce adolescents‟ sexually risky behaviour
and promote reproductive health.
