Magnitude of Sexual Behaviours Among College Students In The Eighth Macro-Region of Iran By Self-Reported and Network Scale-Up

Background: This study was designed to directly and indirectly estimate the prevalence of sexual behaviors among students of medical science universities in the eighth Macro- region of Iran. Methods This cross-sectional study was performed on 3900 students from Kerman and Sistan and Baluchestan provinces in 2019. The data were collected using direct (i.e., self-report of their own behaviors) and indirect (NSU: Network scale-up) methods. Results The mean (SD) age of students was 22.45 (3.25). The prevalence of heterosexual intercourse in return for money, extramarital heterosexual intercourse, masturbation, sexting, porn watching, homosexuality and abortion based on NSU method was 6.0%, 8.5%, 19.5%, 9.1%, 22.9%, 2.4% and 0.5% respectively. Corresponding figures of the direct method were 5.7%, 5.8% 18.6%, 9.7%, 23.1%, 2.1% and 0.9% respectively. Conclusion Sexual behaviors like porn watching, masturbation and sexting can harm the youth, family and society. The youth should be given training to correctly react to sexual situations.