Predictors of risky sexual behaviour among young people in the era of HIV/AIDS: evidence from the 2008 Botswana AIDS Impact Survey III.

Abstract

The objective of this study is to fill in that research gap by investigating factors that are likely to predict Botswana's young people's practicing risky sexual behaviour in the era of HIV/AIDS. Data used in this study were obtained from a nationally representative sample of 5,810 young people aged 15 to 29 who had completed an individual questionnaire of the 2008 Botswana AIDS Impact Survey III. Both descriptive and multiple regression analyses were used for analysis. Elevated odds ratio (OR) values were obtained from a linear model analysis, showing statistically significant predictors of risky sexual behaviour among young people who have experienced coerced sex (OR=2.2), substance use (OR=1.8), having had sex before the age of 15 (OR=1.9), being older (OR=1.1) and lack of sexual self-efficacy (OR=1.6). Therefore risk reduction strategies aimed at addressing these potential problems should target young people before they enter adolescence and should develop gender-specific strategies.