Sending love or risking trouble: Exploring sexting behaviors among university students.

Abstract

Abstract Background: Young people involved in sexting are predisposed to risky sexual behaviours, poor psychological well-being, and cyberbullying. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of sexting and associated factors among undergraduate students in Ghana. Method: We conducted a cross-sectional survey among 652 undergraduate students at the University of Ghana. Results: The prevalence of sexting was 48% for sending, 69% for receiving and 35% for two-way sexting. Participants aged 20–24 years (AOR = 0.58; 95% CI: 0.35–0.95) had a lower likelihood of sending sexually suggestive pictures compared with those aged 17–19 years. Females (AOR = 0.47; 95% CI: 0.32–0.70) were 52% less likely to send sexually suggestive pictures compared with males. Also, second year (Level 200) students (AOR = 0.48; 95% CI: 0.25–0.94) had lower odds of sending sexually suggestive pictures compared with first year (Level 100) students. Conclusion: Therefore, effective interventions are crucial to help promote the sexual health and well-being of undergraduate students.