High risk sexual behavior among young persons with physical disability from selected schools in Accra metropolitan district and Akuapim north district: A cross sectional study

Kareem Mumuni 1, 2, Amartey Nii Okaikwei 1, Kwaku Asah- Opoku 1, 2, Bernice Amartey 4, Yanney Ekow 1, Odame Frank 1, Koto Grace 3 and Ali Samba 1, 2, *

1 Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Reproductive and Family Planning Unit, Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Ghana.
2 Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Ghana Medical School, College of Health Sciences, Ghana.
3 Department of Population, Family and Reproductive Health, School of Public health, University of Ghana, college of health sciences, Ghana.
4 Department of Ophthalmology, 37 Military Hospital. Accra. Ghana.
 
Research Article
World Journal of Advanced Research and Reviews, 2023, 20(01), 337–346
Article DOI: 10.30574/wjarr.2023.20.1.2053
 
Publication history: 
Received on 28 August 2023; revised on 04 October 2023; accepted on 07 October 2023
 
Abstract: 
High risk sexual behaviour is a major contributor to sexually transmitted infections and unintended pregnancy, which are not uncommon among young persons with physical disability.
The objective was to determine the prevalence, types and factors associated with high risk sexual behaviour among young persons living with physical disability.
Methods: Participants were selected through stratified proportionate sampling from four centres. Data collection was from 26th November 2020 to 19th February 2021. Simple proportions was used in analysing socio-demographic data and high risk sexual behaviour was categorised into low level (at most one high risk sexual behaviour) and high level. (At least two high risk sexual behaviours) and analysed using multiple logistic regression. Kruskal Wallis test was carried out to examine the differences in high risk sexual behaviour between the subgroups of young person with physical disability. A p-value of less than 0.05 at a confidence interval 95% was considered statistically significant.
Results: Four hundred and thirteen participants were interviewed out of which one hundred and seventeen (28%) had visual disability, 27(7%) had limb disability and 269 (65%) had hearing/speech disability. The mean age of the participants was 17.6 ± 2.4 years. Out of the 172 participants who had ever had sexual intercourse, 13 (7.6%) did not engage in any type of HRSB and (92.4%) indulged in at least one type of high risk sexual behaviour. There was no difference in the proportion of high risk sexual behaviour between the different subgroups of YPWPD. Male gender (aOR, 5.5; 95% CI, and 2.0-3.3) lack of higher level maternal education, maternal unemployment and lack of religiosity were significantly associated with high level high risk sexual behaviour.
 
Keywords: 
High risk; Young persons; Physical disability; Sexual behaviour
 
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