Title : Impact of internet and social media platform use on youths' risky sexual behavior in Addis Ababa university students, 2023
Abstract:
Background: Risky sexual behavior is defined as any sexual activity that increases the risk of contracting sexually transmitted infections (STI) including HIV and unintended pregnancies. Exposure to sexual contents is fraught with health and social implications. A major source of this exposure is the Social Media (SM) platforms, which are widely used by young people. The internet has multiplied how young person’s access information on any subject matter including sexual contents.
Objectives: To explore the influence of internet platform use on youths' risky sexual behavior in Addis Ababa university students, Addis Ababa Ethiopia, 2023.
Methods: A qualitative method, exploratory study design was employed in Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia. Information was retrieved from participants selected using a snowball purposive sampling technique through open ended in-depth interview and key informant interview in Addis Ababa University selected campus and using a topic guide which is initially based on a review of literature until saturation reached. The Data was analyzed in thematic analysis approach.
Result: The results of this study showed that, internet and social media platform usage has its own influence on risky sexual behavior both negatively and positively; providing inaccurate information, exposure to Sexual Explicit Media, predispose to early sexual initiation, leading to skewed perception on risky sexual behavior also behavioral change and to the positive side it is seen as a source of sexual information which the youth students couldn’t get from their surroundings.
Conclusion: The results of this study show that there were several internet-related issues that influence students' risky sexual behavior at Addis Ababa University in Ethiopia. The young participants in this study spoke about a variety of negative effects of internet use on their sexual lives. Measures should be taken by concerned body to dispel or at least to reduce these negative impact and have a proper use of this platform in a fruitful way.
