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This paper examines aspects and predictors of actual and hidden dropout among immigrant students in general, and among Israeli students of Ethiopian origin, in particular. A hidden dropout is a student who is often absent from school or physically in class but is passive and does not actively take part in the learning process. The subject of this study derives from research evidence showing that the dropout rates of Israeli adolescents of Ethiopian origin are higher than those of their peers who are not of Ethiopian origin. We investigated differences between normative learners, hidden dropout youth and adolescents who are disengaged from the educational system. The predictors included perceived discrimination, social support and collective identities; 374 adolescents of Ethiopian origin completed self-report questionnaires. The major findings show that the hidden dropouts group was characterised by a pattern of high parental encouragement but a lack of support from teachers. Implications of the results, both for theory and for practice, are discussed, followed by suggestions for future research.

This paper examines a major aspect of identity development in the context of cultural transition. Following Eriksonian psychosocial and sociocultural perspectives, it investigates self-continuity and identity integration in light of inherent discontinuity among young immigrants. More specifically, this examination draws on three distinct narrative studies, within the framework of Dynamic Narrative Approach, with first- and second-generation adolescents and young adult Ethiopian immigrants to Israel. Their negotiations of identity, with a focus on their narrative construction of past, present, and future across life domains (education, career, military service, family), are illustrated in this article in a variety of developmental paths. Dynamics of reciprocity between early life experiences and future orientation are revealed in the narratives. A capacity to connect cultural resources in the past with challenges in the new culture is identified as a key. By processing them and bringing them up-to-date, meaning becomes relevant to current experiences and developmental challenges. Across the three distinct studies, a variety of exploratory activities and relational qualities are found to facilitate or impede the reconstruction and integration of identity.

Relocation from inner cities and rehousing in suburbs is becoming an increasingly prevalent issue in developing countries. However, there is limited evidence about the perspectives of adolescents and most studies are from western contexts. In addressing this gap this study tracked adolescents before and after they were relocated over an eight-year interval from the centre of Addis Ababa to the outskirts, mainly to government-sponsored condominium housing. The paper also compares the views of those who were relocated with those who stayed behind. The paper argues that condominium housing enabled low-to-middle-income households to become house owners, while the poorest could not afford the costs, and the richest preferred building their own houses. From the perspective of adolescents who were relocated the move led to better housing and improved sanitation. However, students faced difficulties in the first year commuting, and schools and health centres were considered better quality in the previous locations; markets and shops were initially less well developed in the condominium areas, and there were fewer recreation options, though pollution and safety were greater concerns in the old neighbourhoods. A significant majority of the adolescents (79%) felt that the changes were positive or mainly positive and soon adapted to the new social environment, though social ties were less strong than in their previous neighbourhoods. Those who moved had better internet access and there were gender differences in decision-making, leisure activities and spending, with girls having less freedom, somewhat compensated for by mobile phones and social media. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Despite Ethiopia's enormous effort in youth-friendly service provision, little was investigated about the challenges of accessing sexual and reproductive health services in Western Ethiopia. Thus, this study aimed to assess factors associated with the utilization of adolescent and youth sexual and reproductive health services in this area. Methods: A community-based cross-sectional quantitative method mixed with the qualitative inquiry was conducted among 771 adolescents and youth aged 15 to 24 years from February 1 to 28, 2020. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews using pretested structured questionaries. Data were entered using EPI-INFO version 7.0 and analyzed by SPSS version 25. Descriptive analysis and logistic regressions were performed. The adjusted odds ratio with a 95% confidence interval was used and statistical significance was declared at P-value < 0.05. The qualitative inquiry was collected through in-depth interviews with service providers, focus group discussions, and observation checklists of service units in the study facilities. Data were analyzed thematically. Results: The mean age of participants was 18.99 years (SD ± 2.49). Two hundred seventeen (28.1%) of participants reported that they have ever heard about adolescents' and youth's reproductive health services. Only 66 (8.6%) have ever visited health facilities for sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services. Factors associated with the utilization of sexual and reproductive health service were age from 15 to 19 years (AOR = 0.36; 95%CI: 0.17, 0.76), history of having sexual intercourse(AOR = 5.34;95%CI: 2.53, 11.23), ever heard about sexual reproductive health service (AOR = 11.33; 95%CI: 5.59, 22.96), and visited a health facility for other health services (AOR = 5.12; 95%CI:1.72,15.24). Conclusion: Sexual and reproductive health service utilization among adolescents and youth was found to be low. The factors associated with adolescents and youth sexual and reproductive health services utilization were age, history of ever having sexual intercourse, ever heard about SRH services, and visit the health facility for other services. Therefore, it is better if the concerned bodies work on improving awareness of adolescents and youth towards SRH services and integrating these services into other routine services. Plain Language Summary: Background: Ethiopia is showing its enormous effort to improve the utilization of sexual and reproductive health services by adolescents and youths. But different factors are affecting it. This paper explains how many adolescents and youths are using sexual and reproductive health services and the factors affecting their utilization. Methods: We interviewed 771 adolescents and youths aged 15 to 24 years in western Ethiopia. We asked them about the awareness and utilization of adolescents' and youths' sexual reproductive health services and the factors affecting their utilization. Results: seven hundred seventy-one adolescents and youths were interviewed. Two hundred seventeen (28.1%) and 66 (8.6%) of them heard about and utilized adolescents' and youths' reproductive health services respectively. Those adolescents and youths who heard about sexual and reproductive health service practiced sexual intercourse and visited a health facility for other health services used sexual and reproductive health service more frequently. Conclusion: Adolescents and youths who were using Sexual and reproductive health services were not many. Therefore, it better if the concerned bodies work on improving awareness and utilization of adolescents' and youths' sexual and reproductive health services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to assess the magnitude of parent-adolescent communication on sexual and reproductive health (SRH) issues and its association with gender and premarital sexual practice among school adolescents of Woldia town. Design/methodology/approach: School-based cross-sectional study was conducted on 368 unmarried secondary and preparatory school adolescents (15–19 years) in Woldia town. Simple random sampling was employed to select study participants. Self-administered questionnaire was used. Data were entered by EPI-Data version 3.0.2 and analyzed by using SPSS version 20. Findings: In this study, 56.3% of school adolescents had parental communication on sexual and reproductive health issues. The result of this study showed that adolescents who had history of sexual intercourse where 64% less likely to communicate with parents on sexual and reproductive health issues (AOR: 0.36 95% CI: 0.20, 0.65), but there was no association between gender and sexual and reproductive health communication between adolescent and parent (AOR: 1.06, 95% CI: 0.64, 1.75). Originality/value: Parent-adolescent communication about sexual matters is one of the means that encourages adolescents to adopt responsible sexual behavior. Many children in Africa are uncomfortable to have a communication about sexual and reproductive health issues with their parents because the subject is a taboo topic in most homes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adolescence is a critical period of physical, cognitive, and social development that needs to be supported with healthy diets. Dietary behaviours of adolescents can be shaped by their nutrition‐literacy and their interaction with parents and peers as well as their school food environment. Therefore, the present study aimed to assess factors that influence dietary behaviours of adolescents in urban Ethiopia. Sex‐disaggregated, focused group discussions (n = 70) were conducted in 36 private and government schools (n = 12/city) among adolescents (n = 432) 15–19 years of age in Addis Ababa, Bahir Dar, and Dire Dawa. Photovoice was applied in a subgroup of participants (n = 216) to gain further insights into adolescents' perception of their school food environment. Key informant interviews were conducted among school principals (n = 36). Adolescents had a relatively good nutrition knowledge and recognised the importance of diverse diets, but misperceptions also existed. They identified fruit and vegetables as healthy foods, but their consumption was deterred by food safety concerns. The adolescents identified foods high in salt, fat, and sugar, including processed/packaged foods as unhealthy, but still consumed them frequently due to their taste, affordability, availability and accessibility in and around schools. Both undernutrition and overweight/obesity were linked to social exclusion and bullying in school. Effective behavioural change communication is required to address common misperceptions. School nutrition programs should integrate water, sanitation and hygiene programs to ensure food safety. Regulations promoting healthy eating while discouraging unhealthy dietary behaviours are vital. Interventions to make nutrient‐dense and healthy foods available, accessible, and affordable are urgently needed to improve the nutrition and health outcome of adolescents. Key messages: Adolescents had a relatively good nutrition knowledge, but misperceptions also existedFoods high in fat, sugar, and salt, but also processed/packaged foods were considered unhealthy, but were frequently consumedUnhealthy foods were widely available/accessible in the school food environmentComprehensive food safety and nutrition interventions are needed at schoolsRegulations for availability and advertising of unhealthy foods in and around schools are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The benefits of universal access to voluntary contraception have been widely documented in terms of maternal and newborn survival, women's empowerment, and human capital. Given population dynamics, the choices and opportunities adolescents have in terms of access to sexual and reproductive health information and services could significantly affect the burden of diseases and nations' human capital. Objectives: The objectives of this paper are to assess the patterns and trends of modern contraception use among sexually active adolescents by socio-economic characteristics and by birth spacing and parity; to explore predictors of use of modern contraception in relation to the health system; and to discuss implications of the findings for family planning policy and programmes. Design: Data are from the last three Demographic and Health Surveys of Ethiopia, Burkina Faso, and Nigeria. The descriptive analysis focused on sexually active adolescents (15- to 19-year age group), used modern contraception as the dependent variable, and a series of contact points with the health system (antenatal care, institutional delivery, postnatal care, immunisation) as covariates. The multivariate analysis used the same covariates, adjusting for socio-economic variables. Results: There are two different groups of sexually active adolescents: those married or in a union with very low use of modern contraception and lower socio-economic status, and those unmarried, among whom nearly 50% are using modern contraception. Younger adolescents have lower modern contraceptive prevalence. There are significant inequality issues in modern contraception use by education, residence, and wealth quintile. However, while there was no significant progress in Burkina Faso and Nigeria, the data in Ethiopia point to a significant and systematic reduction of inequalities. The narrowing of the equity gap was most notable for childbearing adolescents with no education or living in rural areas. In the three countries, after adjusting for socio-economic variables, the strongest factors affecting modern contraception use among childbearing adolescents were marriage and child immunisation. Conclusions: Addressing child marriage and adopting effective policies and strategies to reach married adolescents are critical for improving empowerment and human capital of adolescent girls. The reduction of the equity gap in coverage in Ethiopia warrants further studies and documentation. The results suggest a missed opportunity for maternal and newborn and family planning integration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Methodologies to measure gender-based violence (GBV) have received inadequate attention, especially in humanitarian contexts where vulnerabilities to violence are exacerbated. This paper compares the results from individual audio computer-assisted self-administered (ACASI) survey interviews with results from participatory social mapping activities, employed with the same sample in two different post-conflict contexts. Eighty-seven internally displaced adolescent girls from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and 78 Sudanese girls living in Ethiopian refugee camps were interviewed using the two methodologies. Results revealed that the group-based qualitative method elicited narratives of violence focusing on events perpetrated by strangers or members of the community more distantly connected to girls. In contrast, ACASI interviews revealed violence predominantly perpetrated by family members and intimate partners. These findings suggest that group-based methods of information gathering frequently used in the field may be more susceptible to socially accepted narratives. Specifically, our findings suggest group-based methods may produce results showing that sexual violence perpetrated by strangers (e.g., from armed groups in the conflict) is more prevalent than violence perpetrated by family and intimate partners. To the extent this finding is true, it may lead to a skewed perception that adolescent GBV involving strangers is a more pressing issue than intimate partner and family-based sexual violence, when in fact, both are of great concern. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

INTRODUCTION Cigarette smoking is an important health hazard and major preventable cause of morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of cigarette smoking among Tabor secondary and preparatory school students in Hawassa City, Ethiopia, 2018. METHODS A school-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 564 students aged 15-22 years using simple random sampling techniques, in the period 5-19 March 2018. Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS) was used to assess smoking behaviours. Logistic regression analyses were employed to identify factors associated with cigarette smoking. RESULTS The student prevalence of cigarette smoking was found to be 11% (95% CI: 8.5-13.9) of which 9.4% were current smokers. The proportion of cigarette smoking among male and female students was 8.2% and 2.8%, respectively. An age ≥18 years (AOR = 3.0, 95% CI: 1.29--7.00), students having friends who smoke (AOR= 4.04, 95% CI: 2.04--7.45), khat chewing (AOR=5.57, 95% CI: 2.44--12.76), alcohol consumption (AOR=4.14, 95% CI: 1.84--9.70) and illegal or illicit drug use (AOR=5.84, 95% CI: 1.96--17.36) were found to be significantly associated with cigarette smoking. CONCLUSIONS Cost-effective programs that involve the participation of families, teachers and other stakeholders to deliver health education and which restrict accessibility, advertising and use of substances like alcohol, cigarettes, and other illicit drugs, are highly recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Disordered eating behaviours (DEBs) are variations in regular eating patterns and behaviours and might include symptoms and behaviours of eating disorder with lower level of severity. Such behaviours are common during adolescence at which time several physical and psychological changes occur favouring unhealthy dietary behaviours. Although the magnitude of DEBs is high among high—income countries, similar data are limited among adolescents with diabetes in low-income countries including Ethiopia. This study aimed to assess the magnitude of DEBs and its relationship with body shape dissatisfaction among adolescents with diabetes on follow-up at selected public hospitals in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Methods: Hospital based cross sectional study was conducted among randomly selected 395 adolescents with diabetes attending public hospitals in Addis Ababa from January to December, 2021. Data were collected using structured pretested standard diabetes eating problem survey revised (DEPS-R) questionnaire, body part satisfaction scale of 8 items, and anthropometric measurements. Descriptive statistics such as median alongside interquartile range was used to describe the continuous variables. Binary bivariable and multivariable logistic regression was used for data analysis. Mann–Whitney U-test and Kruskal–Wallis test were used to evaluate the difference between median scores of independent variables. Adjusted odds ratios (AOR) alongside 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated to measure the strength of association between variables of interest. Results: The magnitude of disordered eating behaviours within the last 30 days was 43.3%, [95% CI: (38%, 48%)]. In multivariable analysis, body shape dissatisfaction [AOR = 2.21, 95% CI (1.28, 3.82, p = 0.0001)], family history of diabetes mellitus [AOR = 1.59, 95% CI (1.03, 2.47, p = 0.038)], late adolescence period [AOR = 2.10, 95% CI (1.33, 3.34, p = 0.002)], having diabetic complication[AOR = 2.32, 95% CI (1.43, 3.75, p = 0.001)],and being overweight [AOR = 2.25, 95% CI (1.32, 3.82, p = 0.003)] were significantly associated with DEBs. Conclusions: The magnitude of DEBs was high among the study participants. Body shape dissatisfaction, family history of diabetes mellitus, being in late adolescence period, diabetic complication, and nutritional status of adolescents were significantly associated with DEBs. Therefore, preventive interventions need to be designed by all relevant actors working on health promotion of young population to address factors influencing DEBs among adolescent population with diabetes. Plain English summary: The World Health Organization (WHO) defined adolescents as individuals in the age bracket of 10–19 years. Biologically, adolescence is a period of development that stretches from the onset of puberty through the termination of growth. This period is a critical link between childhood and adulthood, characterized by significant physical, psychological, and social transitions which carry new risks including the development of disordered eating behaviors among adolescents and opportunities that influence the immediate and future health of young people. This cross-sectional study aimed at assessing the magnitude of disordered eating behaviors and its relationship with body shape dissatisfaction among adolescents with diabetes on follow-up at selected public health facilities. The results showed that the magnitude of disordered eating behaviors is high. Body shape dissatisfaction was found to be statistically significantly associated with disorder eating behaviors during adjusted analysis alongside other attributes which have been identified to have an influence on adolescents' eating behaviours. A better understanding of the link between individual level attributes and DEBs could help adolescents' health programmers to launch more conducive interventions targeting the identified risks and researchers to more understand other aspects that could influence the adolescents' eating behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For a person seeking an abortion, the ability to recognize a pregnancy is a critical first step. Pregnancy recognition is complex and shaped by numerous factors. This paper explores the experiences of pregnancy recognition among adolescents in Ethiopia, Malawi, and Zambia. The final sample included 313 adolescents aged 10 to 19 who had sought abortion-related care at urban public facilities in Ethiopia (N = 99), Malawi (N = 104), and Zambia (N = 110). Researchers collected mixed-method data on how adolescents came to recognize that they were pregnant and thematically analyzed qualitative data alongside descriptive statistics from quantitative data. Most adolescents reported that their main mode of recognizing a pregnancy was medical pregnancy tests or late menstruation. Reasons for not recognizing a pregnancy included irregular menses or recent menarche and attribution of signs and symptoms to other medical conditions. Psychological barriers to pregnancy recognition were important, including the refusal to accept a pregnancy and denial of a pregnancy. Timing of recognition shaped the abortion care available for adolescents and the affordability of care. For some adolescents, their capacity to recognize their pregnancy led to involuntary or voluntary disclosure, which decreased their reproductive autonomy. Adolescent experiences of pregnancy recognition complement existing evidence, illustrating critical barriers across age and context. Interrogating pregnancy recognition among adolescents exposed the critical implications for the availability, accessibility, affordability, and autonomy of their abortion trajectory. Pregnancy recognition is complex and can influence adolescents' ability to exercise their reproductive rights and access abortion care of their choosing. Programmes to improve awareness of the signs of a pregnancy, increasing the provision of affordable and accessible pregnancy testing and further research on pregnancy recognition are necessary to support adolescents' reproductive autonomy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cervical cancer is an international public health issue. Nearly all cases of cervical cancer are caused by the human papillomavirus. The HPV vaccine prevents more than 75% of cervical cancer. The extent to which adolescent girls' knowledge and uptake of the HPV vaccine have to be investigated in order to build effective promotion strategies and increase the uptake of the vaccine. The evidence that is currently available in this area is controversial and inconclusive. Hence, this study has estimated the pooled proportion of good knowledge, positive attitude, and uptake of the HPV vaccine and its associated factors among adolescent schoolgirls in Ethiopia. Methods: PubMed, Google Scholar, AJOL, ScienceDirect, and DOAJ were used to search relevant studies. A total of 10 studies were included. The data were extracted by two reviewers using Microsoft Excel and exported to STATA Version 17 for analysis. A random effects model was applied during the analysis. Heterogeneity and publication bias across the studies were evaluated using I2 statistics and Egger's test, respectively. The PROSPERO registration number for the review is CRD42023414030. Result: A total of eight studies comprising 3936 study participants for knowledge and attitude and five studies with 2,481 study participants for uptake of HPV were used to estimate the pooled proportions of good knowledge, a positive attitude, and uptake of the HPV vaccine, respectively. The pooled proportions of good knowledge, positive attitude, and uptake of the HPV vaccine were 55.12%, 45.34%, and 42.05%, respectively. Being an urban resident (OR = 4.17, 95% CI = 1.81, 9.58), having good knowledge (OR = 6.70, 95% CI = 3.43, 13.07), and a positive attitude (OR = 2.04, 95% CI = 1.51, 2.74), were significantly associated with the uptake of the vaccine. Conclusion: The pooled proportions of good knowledge, a positive attitude, and uptake of the HPV vaccine were low in Ethiopia. Being an urban resident and having good knowledge and a positive attitude towards the HPV vaccine were significantly associated with the uptake of the HPV vaccine. We recommend increasing adolescent knowledge, positive attitudes, and uptake of HPV vaccination through school-based seminars, health education, and community mobilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Few studies have examined the mental health needs of African children and teenagers. Based on this gap, this scoping review aims to identify barriers to mental health services, treatments and services sought, and where mental health services are received. Methods: To pursue the stated objectives, we searched the following databases a) PsycINFO, b) CINAHL, c) Medline, and d) Web of Science. The search yielded 15,956 records in total. Results: Studies included in this review were conducted in six African countries: Ethiopia, Mali, Egypt, South Africa, Nigeria, and Tunisia. The majority of the studies were conducted in South Africa (33.32%), followed by Ethiopia (25%), and Egypt (16.67%). In terms of treatments and services sought, both professional and traditional/alternative treatments were reported. The most frequently noted services were psychiatric treatments (25%), screening and diagnostic assessment (16.67%), as well as psychiatric and psychological consultations (16.67%). The most frequently reported treatment centers were psychiatric hospitals. As for treatment barriers, the three most frequently encountered barriers were: a preference for traditional/alternative and complementary treatments (33.33%), followed by stigma (25%), and a lack of knowledge/unfamiliarity with the mental health condition (25%). Conclusion: The results of this study are alarming due to the significant barriers to accessing mental health services coupled with the use of potentially harmful interventions to treat those mental health conditions. We hope this scoping review will help shed light on this important issue and help tomorrow's generation reach its full potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the study was to examine whether Ethiopian oral stories and narratives, known as teret-teret (a story, a story), could be used as a psychotherapy technique in Ethiopia. Thirteen participants were purposively chosen for the study based on their experience with teret-teret application. They included nine elders, two folklore experts, and two counselors. In-depth semi-structured interviews were used to collect data, which were analyzed using thematic content analysis. The findings demonstrated that teret-teret was a beneficial psychotherapy technique used in Ethiopia to help young adolescents mitigate their socio-emotional and behavioral challenges. The implications of the findings highlight the necessity of reconstructing and using teret-teret in structured and formal ways in schools, childcare facilities, and communities. It also suggests that future studies should concentrate on extended longitudinal studies that use a mixed-methods design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Although 25% of the Ethiopian population is young, Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) Services have not been adequately researched and intervened, leaving adolescents with many reproductive health challenges. Assessment of the uptake of each element of SRH service and its determinants among those age groups is essential to improving service uptake and reducing the burden of illness and disability in adolescents. Thus, this study aimed at assessing the uptake of key elements of SRH services and its determinants among adolescents residing in rural districts of Guraghe zone, Southern Ethiopia. Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was carried out from May 1 to 30, 2020, and a multi-stage sampling technique was employed to randomly select 1028 adolescents. The data were collected by using a pre-tested interviewer-administered questionnaire. The data were coded and entered into Epi-Data version 3.1 and exported into SPSS version 23 for analysis. Independent t-tests and analysis of variance (ANOVA) were run to determine whether there were statistically significant differences in the mean number of SRH services used across each categorical variable. A multivariable generalized linear regression (GLM) model with a Poisson link was used to determine the effect of each variable on the mean number of SRH services used. Adjusted odds ratios with their corresponding 95% confidence interval were used to declare the statistical significance of the independent variables. Results: The study included 1,009 adolescents, yielding a response rate of 98.1%. The use of the SRH service was assessed using eight elements, and the mean (± SD) score of service uptake was 4.05 (± 1.94), with only 6.8% of adolescents receiving all key elements. Comprehensive sexuality education (55.1%) and voluntary HIV/AIDS counseling and testing (51.0%) were the commonest service items used by adolescents, while the provision of contraceptives was the lowest service item received (25.9%). Educational level (AOR: 1.28, 95% CI: 1.03–1.56), having a parental discussion (AOR: 1.31, 95% CI: 1.13–1.51), lack of youth clubs (AOR: 0.71, 95% CI: 0.66–0.87), and knowledge on SRH issues (AOR: 0.79, 95% CI: 0.73–0.85) were identified as significant predictors of the uptake of key elements of SRH services. Conclusion: The overall uptake of SRH services was found to be low in the study area. Schools should be an excellent means of educating adolescents to increase their knowledge of key elements of SRH services. Furthermore, stakeholders must work together to improve the culture of parental discussion with adolescents and establish and strengthen youth clubs, as measures for encouraging the use of SRH services. Plain language summary: Progress towards universal health coverage requires keeping adolescents healthy, as adolescence represents a significant opportunity for successful prevention and health promotion with life-course implications. Sexual and reproductive health (SRH) service is well described as the combination of techniques, procedures, and services that prevent and respond to sexual health snags by ensuring sexual health and well-being. While most adolescent health problems are avertible or fixable, adolescents face many hurdles in accessing health care and information, especially those who are in rural corners. Although 25% of the Ethiopian population is young, Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) Services have not been adequately researched and intervened, leaving adolescents with many reproductive health challenges. Assessment of the uptake of each element of SRH service and its determinants among those age groups is essential to improving service uptake and reducing the burden of illness and disability in adolescents. Thus, this study aimed at assessing the uptake of key elements of SRH services and its determinants among adolescents residing in rural districts of Guraghe zone, Southern Ethiopia. A multi-stage method of sampling was employed, and adolescents have been randomly chosen and participated in the study. Pre-tested structured questionnaires were used for data collection. Statistical significance between dependent and independent variables was checked by using bivariate analysis across ANOVA and independent t-tests. To see the weight of each explanatory variable on SRH service utilization, a generalized linear regression model (GLM) with a Poisson link was done. The overall uptake of SRH services was found to be low in the study area. Comprehensive sexuality education (55.1%) and voluntary HIV/AIDS counseling and testing (51.0%) were the commonest service items used by adolescents, while the provision of contraceptives was the lowest service item received (25.9%). Educational level, having a parental discussion, lack of youth clubs, and knowledge of SRH issues were identified as significant predictors of the uptake of key elements of SRH services. Schools should be an excellent means of educating adolescents to increase their knowledge of key elements of SRH services. Furthermore, stakeholders must work together to improve the culture of parental discussion with adolescents and establish and strengthen youth clubs, as measures for encouraging the use of SRH services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Motivation: The Covid‐19 pandemic delivered an unprecedented shock to education systems globally, with school closures affecting 1.6 billion children. Education systems in low‐ and middle‐income countries (LMICs) are facing significant budget cuts further constraining capacities to adapt to Covid‐19 impacts. The need for evidence to inform policy dialogues about how best to mitigate impacts and support education systems to "build back better" is pressing. Purpose: In Ethiopia, schools reopened in October 2020 after a seven‐month pandemic‐related closure. Employing an adapted resilience systems analysis framework, this article focuses on the extent to which Ethiopia's education system—which has in recent decades seen rapid progress in enrolment rates—has adapted to the impacts of the pandemic on adolescents' education and learning, and has achieved this equitably. Methods and approach: The article draws on mixed‐methods data from Ethiopia collected virtually with a pre‐existing cohort of 3,066 adolescents (1,683 girls and 1,383 boys) during the immediate onset of the pandemic (April–June 2020) and following the reopening of schools (November 2020–February 2021). Adolescent perspectives are complemented by 27 key informant interviews at community and district levels. Findings: Rural adolescents, girls, and adolescents with disabilities were less likely to access distance education during school closures due to connectivity challenges and discriminatory norms, and to subsequently re‐enrol. Implementation of adaptive measures, including hygiene guidance, smaller class sizes, and catch‐up classes, has been highly uneven, and outreach to support re‐enrolment of socially marginalized adolescents has been very limited. Policy implications: For LMICs like Ethiopia to build back better post‐pandemic and stay on track to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 4's commitment to inclusive and equitable quality education for all, scaled‐up investments in blended learning approaches, addressing the digital divide, and ensuring targeted outreach and social protection to support re‐enrolment of socially marginalized adolescents are critical. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Insights into the role of changing historical-political-cultural contexts and social norms in shaping adolescent girls' and boys' futures contributes to an understanding of human development at the intersection of gender and youth in low- and middle-income countries. This study investigates the capabilities and aspirations of adolescent girls and boys and their evolution in Amhara against the background of three successive political regimes that governed Ethiopia over the last 90 years, the Haile-Selassie imperial regime (1930–1974), the socialist military Derg regime (1974–1991), and the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (1991–2019), each with their own institutions, structures and infrastructure, and gender- and age-related relations and norms. The study adopts a capability approach with a gender and generationing development lens as a framework and relies on qualitative data collected through community- and mixed-generation group discussions. The study illustrates that, even if institutional and structural barriers became less stringent over time, cumulative gender- and age-related obstacles – some rooted in beliefs, norms, traditions and relations – hindered the expansion of adolescents' capability success, consistently more so for girls than boys. (The threat of) gender-based violence pervasively constrains girls' capabilities success and aspirations in spite of more formal protective institutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Glycemic control is an important part of diabetes management. Strict glycemic control has been shown to reduce the long-term complications of diabetes. However, achieving good glycemic control is challenging for people with diabetes especially in resource limited settings. The aim of this study was to assess glycemic control and identify its determinants among children and adolescents with diabetes. Methods: A cross-sectional study among 116 children and adolescents with diabetes was done at a pediatric endocrine clinic in southern Ethiopia. Data on socioeconomic, demographic, nutrition, and diabetes related variables were collected. Glycemic control was assessed based on glycosylated hemoglobin level. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify predictors of glycemic control. Results: The mean glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) of the participants was 9.6 ± 2.4% (81 ± 3 mmol/mol). Ninety seven (83.6%) of the study participants had poor glycemic control [HbA1c ≥7.5% (58 mmol/mol)]. The presence of lipodystrophic change at injection sites (p =0.028) and being from a family that cannot afford for insulin when there is no free supply (p =0.009) were associated with poor glycemic control. Conclusions: The majority of children and adolescents with diabetes had poor glycemic control. Stakeholders shall focus on identifying strategies to improve the magnitude of poor glycemic control. More research is warranted to exhaustively list out factors contributing to poor glycemic control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We examine the situation of adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic in four low- and middle-income countries using data from a large-scale phone survey conducted in 2020. The survey was part of Young Lives, a 20-year longitudinal study of two cohorts of young people born in 1994 and 2001 in Ethiopia, India (Andhra Pradesh and Telangana), Peru and Vietnam. We focus on the Younger (19-year-old) Cohort, describing their experiences along multiple dimensions, and assessing how their lives have changed since an earlier survey in 2016. We also compare these young people with an Older Cohort (surveyed at the same age in 2013), using a cross-cohort comparison in the spirit of a difference-in-differences approach. Compared to 2016, and compared with the Older Cohort, the increase in the probability of a loss of household livelihood (income or employment) is both large and significant in all countries. However, a 2020 downturn in self-reported well-being is significant in Ethiopia, India and Peru, but not in Vietnam, the country which experienced particular success in controlling the pandemic during 2020. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of European Journal of Development Research is the property of Palgrave Macmillan Ltd. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of European Journal of Development Research is the property of Palgrave Macmillan Ltd. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of European Journal of Development Research is the property of Palgrave Macmillan Ltd. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Motivation: Although many countries have made progress towards achieving Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4) on inclusive and equitable education for all, vulnerable children and adolescents in low‐income countries often face significant barriers to realizing educational opportunities, especially at secondary and post‐secondary or tertiary levels. Purpose: In line with the aim of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development to "leave no one behind", the article explores the factors that shape the educational trajectories of vulnerable population groups and contributes to evidence‐informed policy and programming to tackle school dropout in rural Ethiopia. Approach and Methods: The article draws on qualitative research on 150 girls and boys aged 10–19 years, along with their caregivers and key informants, in communities from three diverse regions in Ethiopia: pastoralist Afar, highland Amhara, and lowland Oromia. Findings: Although Ethiopia has made remarkable progress in increasing secondary enrolment since 2000, intersecting barriers put vulnerable adolescents' educational opportunities at risk. Children and adolescents from poor households, those with disabilities, and who are internally displaced, out‐of‐school or working face a range of challenges at the household, community and system levels. These barriers are also shaped by gender norms that restrict adolescent girls' and boys' education, often in contrasting ways. Policy Implications: A multi‐pronged approach is critical to promoting educational opportunities that leave no adolescent behind, including investments in school quality, positive disciplinary approaches, competency‐based grade progression, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) facilities and school‐feeding programmes; the wider enabling environment, including social protection and safe, subsidized transport; initiatives to tackle age‐ and gender‐based violence that discourages school attendance; and tailored strategies to support the most vulnerable young people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To assess factors influencing dietary behaviours of adolescents in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.Design: Using the qualitative participatory method Photovoice, participants received training on the basics of Photovoice and took photographs related to (un)healthy eating in their environment. Transcripts of individual interviews, focus group discussions and photographs were coded for thematic analysis.Setting: One private and one public school located in the same, central neighbourhood in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia to explore how school populations of different socio-economic status experience the same neighbourhood environment.Participants: Twenty-six adolescents aged 14-19 years old, of which there were seventeen girls and nine boys.Results: Findings from the current study indicate that food safety concerns appear to be the major influencing factors for adolescents' dietary choices. Unhealthy and unsafe foods appear to be widely available and/or affordable in adolescents' neighbourhoods and almost half of the photographs taken by adolescents depicted poor hygiene conditions related to food vendors. Participants considered foods available in their environments as generally unsafe, calling for more packaged food.Conclusions: Concerns for food safety, hygiene and affordability are the dominating factors for adolescents' food choices. These concerns, together with limited nutrition knowledge and preference for packaged foods, could make cheap, ultra-processed packaged foods more desirable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Due to the limited access to sexual and reproductive health service, out-of-school-adolescents become at a higher risk for early marriage, early pregnancy early parenthood, and poor health outcomes over their life course. Hence, the aim of this study was to explore the challenges faced by female out-of-school adolescents in accessing sexual and reproductive health service in Bench-Sheko zone. Methods: A community-based qualitative exploratory study was carried out from November 01/2020 to December 01/2020 among selected out-of-school adolescents residing in rural and urban districts of Bench-Sheko Zone, and healthcare professionals working in the local health centers. FGD participants and healthcare providers were purposely selected for this study. Eight focus group discussions and 8 in-depth interviews were conducted among female out-of-school adolescents, and health care professionals, respectively. Result: The study revealed that out-of-school adolescents encounter several challenges in accessing sexual reproductive health service which includes socio-cultural barriers, health system barriers, perceived legal barrier, inadequate information regarding sexual reproductive health service, and low parent-adolescent communication. Conclusion: The finding suggests the need to engage community influencers (religious leaders, community leaders, and elders) in overcoming the socio-cultural barriers. Program planners and policy makers have better make an effort to create adolescent friendly environments in SRH service areas. Furthermore, implementing community-based awareness raising programs, parental involvement in sexual reproductive health programs, and encouraging parent-adolescent communication on sexual reproductive health issues could improve sexual reproductive health service utilization by out-of-school adolescents in the study area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of European Journal of Development Research is the property of Palgrave Macmillan Ltd. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Tropical Medicine & International Health is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The two components of hope (i.e., hope‐agency defined as the ability to envision and believe in one's ability to achieve goals; hope‐pathway defined as belief in one's ability to devise strategies to achieve one's goals) propel adolescents toward well‐being, academic achievement and personal fulfillment. This study compares levels of hope and its components, for different groups of immigrant and ethnic non‐immigrant youths, while adjusting for and measuring the impact of racism, school and family characteristics, and the youth's unique individual attributes. Using a community‐based participatory research approach and a cross‐sectional study design, data were collected from immigrant and non‐immigrant youth (n = 567) between May 2015 and December 2015 at three Israeli public high schools. The study included five groups of youth based on their self‐descriptions: Ethiopian immigrant (n = 48), Russian immigrant (n = 145), Israeli‐born Mizrachi/Sephardi (n = 59), Israeli‐born Ashkenazi (n = 49), or Israeli‐born Unspecified (n = 266). Linear regression models showed that Ethiopian immigrant youth, compared to Russian immigrant youth and all Israeli‐born groups of youth, had significantly lower hope‐agency, hope‐pathway and overall hope. However, an interaction effect between racism and ethnicity indicated that adolescents who perceived racism and self‐identified as Ethiopian had higher hope‐agency, hope‐pathway and overall hope. This effect was not found with Russian immigrant or Israeli‐born youth. Immigrants of color compared to other immigrants and ethnicities have less overall hope; but those who acknowledge racism feel more control over their future (hope‐agency), able to devise strategies to surmount barriers blocking goals (hope‐pathway), and have greater overall hope. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A substantial proportion of alcohol advertising reaches an underage audience and is presented in a style that is attractive to youths. The objective of the research was to assess the prevalence and determinants of underage adolescents' exposure to beer advertisements in Shashemene town, Ethiopia. An institutional (school) based cross-sectional research survey design was used where the process of data collection was undertaken at a point in time. The study was based on a structured questionnaire distributed to 300 purposively selected boys and girls between 15-17years old. A pilot study was undertaken before the actual data collection processes. After collection, the data were cleaned, coded and organised. Then, the data were entered into SPSS version 20 for further analysis after which both descriptive and inferential statistical tools were utilized for data analysis and presentation. Underage adolescents in the study area were highly (97.3%) exposed to beer advertisements. Both Pearson's correlation and multivariate linear regression analysis showed that the level of beer advertisements in predisposing adolescents to drinking was significantly associated with sex (P=.000), experience of chewing chat (P=.000), anticipated reactions of parents (P=.03), and student-teacher interactions (P=.000). Broadcast advertising of beer both on the electronic and social media hasremarkably impacted underage adolescents' alcohol drinking behaviours in the study area. Therefore, alcohol marketing practices in Ethiopia deserve immediate legal and policy restrictions and the danger calls for an effective enforcement of the existing relevant legal codes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Primary dysmenorrhea (PD) is the most common gynecologic compliant among adolescent females. There is a wide variation in the estimate of PD, which ranges from 50% to 90%, and the disorder is the most common cause of work and school absenteeism in adolescent females. Objective: To assess the prevalence and associated risk factors of PD among female university students and understand its effects on students' academic performance. Methods: A cross-sectional study was employed in 440 research participants. A multistage stratified sampling technique was employed to select the study units. Structured and pretested self-administered questionnaires were used and weight and height measurements were conducted. The severity of dysmenorrheal pain was assessed by using a verbal multidimensional scoring system and visual analog scale. The data were double entered in Epi Info version 3.1 and analyzed using SPSS version 17. Descriptive statistics, chi-square test, and logistic regression analysis were performed. Results: A total of 440 students participated in this study. The prevalence of PD was 368 (85.4%). Of these, 123 (28.5%) had mild, 164 (38.1%) moderate, and 81 (18.8%) severe primary dysmenorrheal pain. Among students with PD, 88.3% reported that PD had a negative effect on their academic performance. Of these, 80% reported school absence, 66.8% reported loss of class concentration, 56.3% reported class absence, 47.4% reported loss of class participation, 37.8% reported limited sport participation, 31.7% reported limitation in going out with friends, and 21% reported inability to do homework. Based on the multivariate logistic regression, PD was statistically significant with those who had lower monthly stipends, a history of attempt to lose weight, a history of depression or anxiety, disruption of social network of family, friends or people they love, who consumed more than four glasses of tea per day, who drunk one or more Coca-Cola or Pepsi per day, in nullipara, and students with a family history of dysmenorrhea. Conclusion: PD is more prevalent among female students attending university. It has a significant negative impact on students' academic performance. Thus, it needs medical attention. There are various identified associated risk factors and considering them in the management of the disorder is fundamental. It is also wise to recommend future studies to better identify risk factors for PD and lighten its effect on students' academic performance at a larger scale in the country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Household food insecurity and lack of education are two of the most remarkable deprivations which developing countries are currently experiencing. Evidences from different studies showed that health and nutrition problems are major barriers to educational access and achievement in low-income countries which poses a serious challenge on effort towards the achieving Sustainable Development Goals. Evidence on the link between food security and school attendance is very important to address this challenge. This study aimed to assess to what extent food insecurity affects school absenteeism among primary school adolescents.Methods: A school based cross-sectional study was conducted among primary school adolescents in Jimma zone from October-November, 2013. Structured questionnaire was used to collect data on the household food security and socio-demographic variables. Data were analyzed using SPSS for windows version 16.0 after checking for missing values and outliers. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to determine the association of school absenteeism and food insecurity with independent variables using odds ratio and 95 % of confidence intervals. Variables with p ≤ 0.25 in the bivariate analyses were entered into a multivariable regression analysis to control for associations among the independent variables.Results: The frequency of adolescent school absenteeism was significantly high (50.20 %) among food insecure households (P < 0.001) compared to their peers whose households were food secure (37.89 %). Findings of multivariable logistic regression analysis also showed that household food insecurity [AOR = 2.81 (1.70, 4.76)] was positively associated with poor school attendance while female-headed household [AOR = 0.23 (0.07, 0.72)], urban residence [AOR = 0.52 (0.36, 0.81)] and male-gender [AOR = 0.64 (0.54, 0.74)] were inversely associated with school absenteeism. Household food insecurity was positively associated with lack of maternal education [AOR = 2.26 (0.57, 8.93)] and poor household economic status [AOR = 1.39 (1.18, 2.83)]. However, livestock ownership [AOR = 0.17 (0.06, 0.51)] was negatively associated with household food insecurity.Conclusions: Findings of this study showed that household food insecurity has strong linkage with adolescent school absenteeism. Maternal education and household economic status were significantly associated with household food security status. Therefore, national policies and programs need to stress on how to improve family income earning capacity and socioeconomic status to handle household food insecurity which is a key contributor of adolescent school absenteeism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Currently in Ethiopia, young people’s sexual and reproductive health services are limited and there is a growing issue of confidentiality and affordability of these health services. Moreover, the available services provided are not sensitive to the special needs of young people. Therefore, this study was aimed to assess young people’s sexual and reproductive health service utilization and its associated factors in Awabel district, Northwest Ethiopia. Methods: A community based cross-sectional study was conducted among 781 randomly selected young people using a pre-tested structured questionnaires in Awabel district, Northwest Ethiopia. Data were entered into Epi data version 3.1 and analyzed using SPSS version 16.0 software. Results: The mean age of respondents were 17.80 (+ 2.65) years. About 41% of young people had utilized sexual and reproductive health services. Young people from families of higher family expenditure, lived with mothers, participated in peer education and lived near to a Health Center were more likely to utilize sexual and reproductive health services. Furthermore, those who had a parental discussion on sexual and reproductive health (AOR (95% C.I): 2.23 (1.43, 3.46)) and ever had sexual intercourse (AOR (95% C.I): 1.88 (1.30, 2.71)) were more likely to utilize the service than their counterparts. On the other hand, those young people lived with their father and had a primary level of educational attainment was less likely to utilize the service. Conclusion: Utilization of sexual and reproductive health services is low which needs a great attention where; if not intervened, young people might engage in risky sexual activities. Therefore, it needs a concerted effort from all the concerned bodies to improve their service utilization and thereby reduce the burden of young people’s disease and disabilities associated with sexual and reproductive health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Adolescent communication with parents is paramount to reduce sexual health problems. Currently, there is a shortage of information on adolescent-parent communication in Ethiopia in general and study area in particular. Thus, this study is intended to determine adolescent-parent communication on sexual and reproductive health issues and its factors among secondary and preparatory school adolescents in Hadiya Zone, Ethiopia.Methods: We used institution based cross-sectional study design. We stratified schools into urban and semi-urban settings. Then, a total of 8 schools were randomly selected from the strata. The sample size was allocated for each stratum. Finally, participants were randomly selected from separate sampling frames prepared for each stratum. We developed structured questionnaire from related literatures to collect data on adolescent-parent communication and its factors. We cleaned and entered data using EPI info version 3.5.3 and exported to SPSS version 20 for descriptive and logistic regression analysis.Results: The proportion of adolescents who had communicated with their parents was 144 (35.0%). Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicates that participants' knowledge about availability of adolescent and youth friendly sexual and reproductive health services at health facilities [AOR: 0.40, 95% CI: (0.26, 0.62),P-value = 0.001], utilization of adolescent and youth friendly sexual and reproductive health services [AOR: 0.46, 95% CI: (0.29, 0.72),P-value = 0.001] and respondents' educational status: being grade 9, [AOR: 3.21, (95% CI: ((1.16, 8.89), P-value = 0.025] and grade 11; [AOR: 2.96, (95% CI: (1.06, 8.30),P- value =0.039] were statistically associated factors affecting adolescents for not communicating with parents on sexual and reproductive health issues.Conclusion: The findings of our study imply that adolescents were not communicating much with parents about sexual and reproductive health issues even though they were aware of adolescent and youth friendly sexual and reproductive health services. In addition, promotion of service availability may be important to motivate adolescents to communicate with parents. Contextual and age dependent communication barriers should be further identified. Further research is needed in the area to identify barriers particularly from parent side. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Utilization of reproductive health services is an important component in preventing adolescents from different sexual and reproductive health problems. As a result, the extent of their service utilization should be determined before implementing any kind of interventions. Therefore, this study was aimed at assessing the level of reproductive health services utilization and its associated factors among adolescents who live in Debre Berhan town. Methods: A community-based cross-sectional method was employed in this study from April 5–May 1, 2016. A multi-stage systematic sampling technique was applied to select a total of 648 adolescents living in 5 randomly selected kebeles of Debre Berhan town. Moreover, a logistic regression was done to identify independent predictors of reproductive health service utilization. Results: Accordingly, the major findings of this study reveals that about one-third (33.8%) of adolescents utilized at least one of reproductive health services. Adolescents who had discussed sexual and reproductive health issues with their sexual partner and peers were two times more likely to use reproductive health services than their counter parts (AOR = 2.368, 95% CI: 1.168–4.802 and AOR = 2.360, 95% CI: 1.155–4.820 respectively). Adolescents who weren't co-resided with both their parents were also about two times more likely to utilize reproductive health service than those who were living together (AOR = 2.570, 95% CI = 1.155–4.820). Positive perception of oneself towards acquisition of Human Immunodeficiency Virus urged the adolescents to use RH services twice than those who didn't perceive themselves as risky (AOR = 2.231, 95%CI: 1.001–4.975). Conclusion: Succinctly speaking, the analysis of the major finding suggests that the utilization of reproductive health services among adolescents in the study area was low. Discussion with sexual partner and peers, risk perception of oneself towards the acquisition of human immune-deficiency virus was among the predictors of reproductive health services usage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: 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. Methods: 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. Results: 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). Conclusion: 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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]