Does peers’ sexual behaviors affect adolescents’ sexual behaviors?

Abstract

This study is aimed to determine female adolescents’ reproductive and sexual health behaviors in order to promote healthy reproductive behaviors. A descriptive correlation design was used to identify the main predictor of female adolescents’ reproductive and sexual health behaviors. Four hundred samples were selected from urban government schools of Lalitpur; findings revealed that
more then half of respondents (56%) felt very comfortable to communicate with their peer than others. There were statistically significant relationships between female adolescents’ with their peers’
reproductive and sexual health behaviors (r = 0.646; p = <0.05). Further analysis revealed that peers’ reproductive and sexual health behaviors were the main predictor of female adolescents’ reproductive health behaviors (B = 646, t = 15.91 p <0.05). Perhaps, to tackle the developmental needs, female adolescents took help of their peers than with others. If concerned authorities desire for responsible reproductive health behaviors among female adolescents, the trained peer groups need to be involved in health delivery system while
rendering services to this vulnerable group