Abstract:

Risky sexual behavior is a major public health concern, increasing the risk of sexually transmitted infections and unintended pregnancies. This study assessed the prevalence of risky sexual behavior and its associated factors among adolescent girls and young women aged 15–24 years in Moroto District, Uganda. An analytical cross-section design was employed, enrolling 389 respondents. Risky sexual behavior was defined as engaging in any of the following in the past three months: 1) multiple sexual partners, 2) condomless sex, 3) sexual intercourse with a commercial sex worker, or 4) sexual intercourse under the influence of alcohol or substance abuse. Data were collected using a researcher-administered questionnaire, summarized descriptively, and analyzed using the chi-square test. Poisson regression was used to identify independent associations, reported as adjusted prevalence ratios (APRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). The prevalence of risky sexual behavior was 56.6%. A higher likelihood of risky sexual behavior was observed among respondents aged below 18 years (APR: 1.83; 95% CI: 1.34–2.50), those with secondary education (APR: 1.19; 95% CI: 1.03–1.39), and those with a history of sexually transmitted infections (APR: 1.60; 95% CI: 1.07–2.28). Conversely, being married or cohabiting was associated with a lower likelihood of risky sexual behavior (APR: 0.54; 95% CI: 0.43–0.67). The findings highlight age, marital status, education level, and sexually transmitted infection history as significant factors associated with risky sexual behavior, underscoring the need for targeted, context-specific interventions and comprehensive sexuality education to address risky sexual behaviors.

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