The Prevalence and Associated Factors of Extra/Pre-Marital Sexual Behaviors Among University Students in Kerman, Iran

Extra/pre-marital sexual behaviors (EPSB) are considered as an important problem, especially among the young generation.

This study was conducted to estimate the prevalence and determinants of EPSB among university students in Kerman, Iran.

This cross-sectional study was conducted on 2157 students in 2016. This study used different data collection methods such as direct and network scale-up (NSU). A self-administrated questionnaire was completed by the participants for direct data survey. Then NSU data were gathered through the interview by a trained same-sex interviewer.

Total of 1035 male and 695 female students (n = 1730) were studied with the mean age of 20.5 years (range 18 - 29). In the direct method, 14.9% of the students had sex with non-student partners (SNSP) (3.4% females and 22.6% males). Corresponding percentages in the NSU method were 2.5% and 7.9%. Comparing direct method results of two groups, it was determined that males’ last year SNSP (22.6 %,) was more prevalent but in females, last year sex with student partner (SSP) (4.7%) was more prevalent. Comparisons revealed that in the direct method, 41.7% of the students watched pornography (16.6% females and 58.8% males). There was a significant association between watching pornography and gender (OR male to female = 7.2), as well as between SSP and SNSP without any payment regarding the gender (OR male to female = 5.3 and 7.7).

Our findings showed that extra/pre-marital sexual relationships are relatively common among university students, especially males. We found lower percentages in the indirect NSU method, which is mainly because of nature of such behaviors that are invisible in society and we could not provide estimationfor visibility