Box: , Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Understanding the full range of sexual behaviors of young people is crucial in developing appropriate interventions to prevent and control sexually transmitted infections including HIV.
However, such information is meager in developing countries. The objective of this study was to describe oral and anal sex practices and identify associated factors among high school youth. A cross-sectional study was conducted among high school youth in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. A multi-stage sampling procedure was followed to select a representative sample of school youth.
The total sample size for this study was Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire. Data analysis was guided by the ecological framework. The overall proportion of people who reported ever having oral sex was 5. Of these Multiple partnerships were reported by Consistent condom use was reported by Reasons for oral and anal sex included prevention of pregnancy, preserving virginity, and reduction of HIV and STIs transmission.
Considerable proportion of adolescents had engaged in oral and anal sex practices. Multiple sexual partnerships were common while consistent condom use was low. Sexual health education and behavior change communication strategies need to cover a full range of sexual practices. Each year an estimated million new cases of curable STIs occurs worldwide [ 4 - 6 ].
Abstinence, being faithful, and consistent condom use ABC are the recommended prevention interventions. However, young people are still involved in early sexual practices, have multiple sexual partners and do not use condoms consistently [ 7 - 10 ]. Unprotected vaginal-penile intercourse has been known to be the predominant route for HIV and STIs transmission [ 2 - 4 , 11 ]. However, it is becoming evident that youth are involved in oral and anal intercourse [ 12 - 14 ]. Although the oral and anal sex behaviors of youth have been researched in the United States US for more than two decades [ 15 - 18 ], it was only recently that research evidences in some parts of Africa revealed the practice of oral and anal sex [ 19 ].
