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Abstract
Background
Sexual behavior among youths has been a focus of health programmes worldwide. Risky sexual behaviors among youth in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) predispose them to HIV infection. The current study determined the predictors of risky sexual behavior among students aged 15–24 years in the Suhum Municipality, Ghana guided by the Health Belief Model (HBM).
Methods
The study employed a cross-sectional design, collecting data using a structured pretested questionnaire and analyzing them using SPSS version 20 software program at the level 0.05.
Results
The overall prevalence of risky sexual behavior was 59.1% among the participants. None of the constructs of the HBM was statistically associated with risky sexual behavior. However, participants who perceived that they were at risk of contracting HIV and who perceived HIV/AIDS to have severe consequences were more likely to practice safe sexual behavior.
Conclusion
Health promotion programmes should aim at increasing youths’ perception of the threat posed by HIV/AIDS.
Acknowledgement
We acknowledge the Suhum Municipal Health Directorate and the heads and staff of the various schools for permission to conduct the current study.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).
Authors’ contribution
TBPA and EET conceptualized and designed the study and analyzed the data. TBPA collected the data; EET led the writing of the manuscript and critically reviewed the manuscript. EET, JAAT and VOC provided critical revision of the manuscript. All the authors read and approved the final version of the manuscript.