Faculty of Social Sciences, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia.
College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Reproductive Health Department, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia.
Reprod Health. 2018 Apr 11;15(1):61. doi: 10.1186/s12978-018-0505-8.
Behaviors established during adolescence such as risky sexual behaviors have negative effects on future health and well-being. Extant literature indicated that individual attributes such as peer pressure and substance use have impacts on healthy development of young peoples' sexual behavior. The patterns of relationships (social network structure) and the social network content (members' norm regarding sexual practice) established by adolescents' network on adolescents' risky sexual behaviors are not well investigated.
This cross-sectional study assessed the roles of social networks on sexual behavior of high school adolescents in Bahir Dar and Mecha district, North West Ethiopia. Data were collected from 806 high school adolescents using a pretested anonymously self administered questionnaire. Hierarchical logistic regression model was used for analysis.
The results indicated that more than 13% had risky sexual behavior. Taking social networks into account improved the explanation of risky sexual behavior over individual attributes. Adolescents embedded within increasing sexual practice approving norm (AOR 1.61; 95%CI: 1.04 - 2.50), increasing network tie strength (AOR 1.12; 95% CI: 1.06 - 1.19), and homogeneous networks (AOR 1.58; 95% CI: .98 - 2.55) were more likely to had risky sexual behavior. Engaging within increasing number of sexuality discussion networks was found protective of risky sexual behavior (AOR .84; 95% CI: .72 - .97).
Social networks better predict adolescent's risky sexual behavior than individual attributes. The findings indicated the circumstances or contexts that social networks exert risks or protective effects on adolescents' sexual behavior. Programs designed to reduce school adolescents' sexual risk behavior should consider their patterns of social relationships.
青少年时期养成的行为，如危险的性行为，会对未来的健康和幸福产生负面影响。现有文献表明，个体属性，如同伴压力和物质使用，对年轻人性行为的健康发展有影响。青少年网络建立的关系模式（社交网络结构）和社交网络内容（成员关于性行为的规范）对青少年危险性行为的影响尚未得到很好的研究。
本横断面研究评估了社交网络在埃塞俄比亚西北部巴赫达尔和梅恰地区高中生性行为中的作用。使用预先测试的匿名自我管理问卷从 806 名高中生中收集数据。采用分层逻辑回归模型进行分析。
结果表明，超过 13%的人有危险的性行为。考虑到社交网络，个体属性对危险性行为的解释得到了改善。嵌入在增加性实践认可规范中的青少年（AOR 1.61；95%CI：1.04-2.50）、增加网络联系强度（AOR 1.12；95%CI：1.06-1.19）和同质性网络（AOR 1.58；95%CI：0.98-2.55）更有可能有危险的性行为。参与越来越多的性行为讨论网络被发现对危险的性行为具有保护作用（AOR.84；95%CI：0.72-0.97）。
社交网络比个体属性更能预测青少年的危险性行为。研究结果表明了社交网络对青少年性行为产生风险或保护作用的情况或环境。旨在减少学校青少年性风险行为的计划应考虑他们的社交关系模式。
