Investigation of the Relationship Between Sociodemographic Characteristics and Sexual Health Behaviours of University Students

Abstract

Introduction: Adolescence is a unique stage of human development in which the foundations of physical, sexual, and psychosocial development are laid and risky sexual behaviours increase in this period. Aim: The aim is to determine risky sexual behaviours in university students and defining the relationships between sociodemographic characteristics and sexual health behaviours of university students. Materials and methods: A total of 825 students participated in the research. A questionnaire consisting of open and closed-ended questions was used.to collecting data. For evaluating the data, descriptive statistical methods, and Kruskall-Wallis test in independent samples. and Kendall’s Tau-C correlation coefficient was used. Results: 56.3% of the participants had their first sexual experience under the age of 18. 67% of the participants do not have a sexual partner and 70.8% have been sexually active for less than a year. 67% of the participants did not use contraception and the withdrawal method was used the most (73.5%) of the contraception. %86.6 of them did not take any sexual health education. There is a weak significant correlation between paternal education and age at first sexual intercourse and non-significant weak correlation between maternal education level and age first sexual intercourse, and risky sexual health behaviours and age at first sexual intercourse. Conclusion: Although premarital sexual intercourse is common among university students, the rates are consistent with the literature. Among university students, there are risky sexual health behaviours. The students lack contraception knowledge and have not received any training on sexual health.