Associated Factors in Terms of Having Multiple Sex Partners in Nepal: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Background and Aims

A sex partner is considered to someone with whom a person engages in sexual activity. This could be casual partner or interpersonal relationship, depending on the context. An individual who engages in a sexual relationship with more than one partner, either simultaneously or consecutively, is considered to have multiple sex partners. This study aims to determine the factors and behaviors that lead to having multiple sex partners in Nepal.

Methods

This study utilized secondary data from a nationally representative “Nepal Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) 2022.” A multistage, probability proportional sampling, cross-sectional method was used. A total of 4913 men between the ages of 15 and 49 years from 476 different clusters were surveyed. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were carried out using SPSS 25 version, and (p < 0.05) was considered statistically significant.

Results

In this study, it was found that 55.2% of the population had multiple sexual partners based on the reported number of sexual partners a men has had since becoming sexually active. Significant factors associated with having multiple sexual partners included the age of the respondents, province, level of education, religion, ethnicity, use of the internet, occupation, wealth index combined, ecological region, current working status, and area of residence. Respondents aged between 20 and 24 years and those between 25 and 29 years are more likely to have multiple sex partners (crude Odds Ratio (cOR) = 1.570; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.113–2.215) and (cOR = 1.505; 95% CI: 1.076–2.112), even after adjusting for other all compounding variables, than those from other age groups, keeping all other variables constant. After age, province, ethnicity, occupation, and area of residence of the respondents were significant predictors linked to having multiple sex partners.

Conclusion

To be engaged with just one or more partners in sexual activity is a personal choice; however, the risks associated with having multiple sexual partners should be taken into account.