International STD Research & Reviews

Background: The body of quantitative literature that described risky sexual behavior as a predisposing factor for HIV and other sexually transmitted infection are plenty. However, little is known how risky the sexual practices of university students are in this era, particularly in Ethiopia.

Methods: A qualitative research method was employed to explore the sexual behavior of undergraduate university students. Ten students’ focus group discussions and twenty three in-depth interviews were conducted. The study participants were purposively selected students, night time taxi drivers, nightclub owners, abortion service providers, members of campus police and addictive substance sellers. 

Results: Both the focus group discussants and key informants emphasized that the sexual practices of some of Hawassa University female students were more risky than their counterpart male students. Some of the evidence the discussants pointed out were: the high number of female students competing with commercial sex workers in the night clubs; being the majority among women coming for abortion service; several local businessmen coming to the university campus to pick female students at night; and some female students being observed working in hotels as bar lady. Being away from family, academically poor, watching a sex film, peer pressure, attending night clubs, lack of control by the university and substance use were some of the predisposing factors for unsafe sex in both sex. These observations were further strengthened by the low utilization of condoms among students who practiced unsafe sex.  

Conclusion: This study has shown that some of the students were engaged in risky sexual practice both as unprotected and with multiple partners. Involvement of parents, university officials and other significant community members in a forum discussing this issue with students may bring a change in the students’ sexual behavior.