Female Adolescents Risky Sexual and Reproductive Behaviour in Amhara Region, Ethiopia: A Multilevel Analysis

Abstract

Female adolescents’ sexual and reproductive behaviour has been recently emerged sustainable
development issue in developing countries as exposes teenagers to risky pregnancy and related
problems This study examined determinants of female adolescents’ risky sexual and reproductive
behaviour in Amhara region. The main source of data was the 2016 Ethiopia Demographic and
Health Survey. The analysis was based on 1,123 female adolescents selected by a two-stage
stratified technique. Data management and analysis were carried out using STATA 14. A Multilevel-Logit Model was used to analyse the data. The findings illustrated that 58.4% of female
adolescents practiced high-risk sexual and reproductive behaviour with a considerable variation of
premarital sexual initiation (22.9%), teen motherhood (34.1%), and pregnancy termination (17.6%).
The odds of exposure to high-risk sexual and reproductive behaviour are significantly higher for
rural (OR = 3.99, 95% CI = 2.38-5.22) and non-exposure to media (OR = 2.67, 95% CI = 2.15-
3.94). On the other hand, the likelihood of premarital sex is higher for urban (OR = 9.05, 95% CI
= 1.30-18.65); secondary education (OR = 5.54, 95% CI = 2.59-7.91); media access (OR = 2.98,
95% CI = 2.26-3.41); late age (OR = 2.07, 95% CI = 1.71-2.46); and Christian (OR = 1.72, 95% CI
= 1.58-1.90). Similarly, the risks of pregnancy termination are higher for urban (OR = 9.71, 95%
CI = 2.10-14.83); secondary school (OR = 4.63, 95% CI = 2.55-5.99); Christian (OR = 1.89, 95%
CI = 1.46-2.29); exposure to media (OR = 3.47, 95% CI = 2.19-4.53); early age (OR = 2.43, 95% CI
= 1.80-3.57); and poor (OR = 2.36, 95% CI = 1.61-3.15). In addition, the likelihood of childbearing higher for rural (OR = 5.13, 95% CI = 2.96-6.30); Muslim (OR = 1.42, 95% CI = 1.36-1.75);
non-exposure to media (OR = 2.86, 95% CI = 2.71-3.24); late age (OR = 4.29, 95% CI = 2.64-5.77);
and illiterate (OR = 3.41, 95% CI = 2.13-4.67). In conclusion, the typical features of female adolescents’ sexual and reproductive behaviour were universal for early marriage and births within
marital union among rural residents while closely concurrent of premarital sexual activity and
pregnancy termination in urban areas. Therefore, the need for initiatives to improve life-planning
skills, identify the needs and concerns, involve the communities to provide friendly health services.