Skip to main content

Lund University Publications

LUND UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

The Impact of Socio-Demographic and Religious Factors upon Sexual Behavior among Ugandan University Students.

Agardh, Anette LU orcid ; Tumwine, Gilbert LU and Östergren, Per-Olof LU (2011) In PLoS ONE 6(8).
Abstract
INTRODUCTION:

More knowledge is needed about structural factors in society that affect risky sexual behaviors. Educational institutions such as universities provide an opportune arena for interventions among young people. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between sociodemographic and religious factors and their impact on sexual behavior among university students in Uganda.



METHODS:

In 2005, 980 university students (response rate 80%) were assessed by a self-administered questionnaire. Validated instruments were used to assess socio-demographic and religious factors and sexual behavior. Logistic regression analyses were applied.



RESULTS:

Our findings... (More)
INTRODUCTION:

More knowledge is needed about structural factors in society that affect risky sexual behaviors. Educational institutions such as universities provide an opportune arena for interventions among young people. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between sociodemographic and religious factors and their impact on sexual behavior among university students in Uganda.



METHODS:

In 2005, 980 university students (response rate 80%) were assessed by a self-administered questionnaire. Validated instruments were used to assess socio-demographic and religious factors and sexual behavior. Logistic regression analyses were applied.



RESULTS:

Our findings indicated that 37% of the male and 49% of the female students had not previously had sex. Of those with sexual experience, 46% of the males and 23% of the females had had three or more sexual partners, and 32% of the males and 38% of the females did not consistently use condoms. For those who rated religion as less important in their family, the probability of early sexual activity and having had a high number of lifetime partners increased by a statistically significant amount (OR = 1.7; 95% CI: 1.2-2.4 and OR = 1.6; 95% CI: 1.1-2.3, respectively). However, the role of religion seemed to have no impact on condom use. Being of Protestant faith interacted with gender: among those who had debuted sexually, Protestant female students were more likely to have had three or more lifetime partners; the opposite was true for Protestant male students.



CONCLUSION:

Religion emerged as an important determinant of sexual behavior among Ugandan university students. Our findings correlate with the increasing number of conservative religious injunctions against premarital sex directed at young people in many countries with a high burden. of HIV/AIDS. Such influence of religion must be taken into account in order to gain a deeper understanding of the forces that shape sexual behavior in Uganda. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
PLoS ONE
volume
6
issue
8
article number
e23670
publisher
Public Library of Science (PLoS)
external identifiers
  • wos:000295832000044
  • pmid:21887292
  • scopus:80051975260
  • pmid:21887292
ISSN
1932-6203
DOI
10.1371/journal.pone.0023670
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
5fc17791-1299-477e-b872-59b22379a1c8 (old id 2169186)
alternative location
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21887292?dopt=Abstract
date added to LUP
2016-04-04 09:12:59
date last changed
2022-01-29 08:49:58
@article{5fc17791-1299-477e-b872-59b22379a1c8,
  abstract     = {{INTRODUCTION:<br/><br>
More knowledge is needed about structural factors in society that affect risky sexual behaviors. Educational institutions such as universities provide an opportune arena for interventions among young people. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between sociodemographic and religious factors and their impact on sexual behavior among university students in Uganda.<br/><br>
<br/><br>
METHODS:<br/><br>
In 2005, 980 university students (response rate 80%) were assessed by a self-administered questionnaire. Validated instruments were used to assess socio-demographic and religious factors and sexual behavior. Logistic regression analyses were applied.<br/><br>
<br/><br>
RESULTS:<br/><br>
Our findings indicated that 37% of the male and 49% of the female students had not previously had sex. Of those with sexual experience, 46% of the males and 23% of the females had had three or more sexual partners, and 32% of the males and 38% of the females did not consistently use condoms. For those who rated religion as less important in their family, the probability of early sexual activity and having had a high number of lifetime partners increased by a statistically significant amount (OR = 1.7; 95% CI: 1.2-2.4 and OR = 1.6; 95% CI: 1.1-2.3, respectively). However, the role of religion seemed to have no impact on condom use. Being of Protestant faith interacted with gender: among those who had debuted sexually, Protestant female students were more likely to have had three or more lifetime partners; the opposite was true for Protestant male students.<br/><br>
<br/><br>
CONCLUSION:<br/><br>
Religion emerged as an important determinant of sexual behavior among Ugandan university students. Our findings correlate with the increasing number of conservative religious injunctions against premarital sex directed at young people in many countries with a high burden. of HIV/AIDS. Such influence of religion must be taken into account in order to gain a deeper understanding of the forces that shape sexual behavior in Uganda.}},
  author       = {{Agardh, Anette and Tumwine, Gilbert and Östergren, Per-Olof}},
  issn         = {{1932-6203}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{8}},
  publisher    = {{Public Library of Science (PLoS)}},
  series       = {{PLoS ONE}},
  title        = {{The Impact of Socio-Demographic and Religious Factors upon Sexual Behavior among Ugandan University Students.}},
  url          = {{https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/files/5263316/2603773.pdf}},
  doi          = {{10.1371/journal.pone.0023670}},
  volume       = {{6}},
  year         = {{2011}},
}