Abstract:
Tanzania is realizing an increase in adolescents engaged in multiple sex partner
behaviour and premarital sex. The objective of this study was to assess sexual
behaviour and risk factors among secondary school students in Moshi rural district
in Kilimanjaro, Tanzania. Anonymous questionnaires were completed by 360
students in six secondary schools randomly selected by gender and students' grade.
Statistical analyses were performed using descriptive statistics. Of 360 students,
55.3% reported ever having sexual intercourse, and 18.1% reported having multiple
sex partners. Of all students who had engaged in sexual intercourse, 59.6% reported
having a single sexual partner and 40.4% of them reported having multiple partners.
Several demographic, family, peer and work influences, and student factors
including knowledge and attitude toward sex were risk factors for students having
sex. About 60% of the sexually active students in both sexes reported to have never
used condoms in the previous year. Both pregnancy and induced abortion had been
experienced by about 12% to 27% of the sexually active female students and about
10% of the sexually active students of both sexes reported to have been diagnosed
with Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs). The results also show that students
were likely to practice masturbation, start having sex at a younger age, and have sex
with married men/women and/or men/women not their "sexual partner" at first
coitus. With the risks of STDs and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) among
young people, teaching sex education at secondary schools in Tanzania offers the
best hope of raising awareness in students who are approaching sexual maturity.
