Table 4 Socio-demographic, educational and parental characteristics by discussion on SRH issues with parents and peers during the last 6 months, among female students, Mekelle, north Ethiopia, 2012

Respondents’ age in years

0.132

0.003

13-15

70(37.2%)

118(62.8%)

104(55.3%)

84(44.7%)

16-17

178(44.8%)

219(55.2%)

233(58.7%)

164(41.3%)

18-21

103(46.4%)

119(53.6%)

156(70.3%)

66(29.7%)

Respondents’ religion

0.127

0.530

Orthodox

306(44.3%)

384(55.7%)

427(61.9%)

263(38.1%)

Muslim

21(31.8%)

45(68.2%)

37(56.1%)

29(43.9%)

Other

24(47.1%)

27(52.9%)

29(56.9%)

22(43.1%)

Respondents’ origin of residence area

0.701

0.188

Urban

55(45.1%)

67(54.9%)

68(55.7%)

54(44.3%)

Rural

296(43.2%)

389(56.8%)

425(62.0%)

260(38.0%)

Respondents’ educational level

0.167

< 0.001

Junior school (grade 9th and 10th)

190(41.4%)

269(58.6%)

245(53.4%)

214(46.6%)

Senior school (grade 11th and 12nd)

161(46.3%)

187(53.7%)

248(71.3%)

100(28.7%)

Stream of study (n = 348)

0.233

0.638

Social sciences

35(40.7%)

51(59.3%)

63(73.3%)

23(26.7%)

Natural sciences

126(48.1%)

136(51.9%)

185(70.6%)

77(29.4%)

School attending

0.113

0.121

Public

310(44.6%)

385(55.4%)

432(62.2%)

263(47.8%)

Private

41(36.6%)

71(63.4%)

61(54.5%)

51(45.5%)

Fathers’ level of education

0.269

0.064

No education

94(39.3%)

145(60.7%)

146(61.1%)

93 (38.9%)

Primary education

66(41.5%)

93(58.5%)

88 (55.3%)

71(44.7%)

Secondary education

97(48.0%)

105(52.0%)

138 (68.3%)

64(31.7%)

Tertiary education

94(45.4%)

113(54.6%)

121(58.5%)

86(41.5%)

Mothers’ level of education

0.685

0.046

No education

128(41.0%)

184(59.0%)

196(82.8%)

116(17.3%)

Primary education

98(43.9%)

125(56.1%)

137(61.4%)

86(38.6%)

Secondary education

65(46.4%)

75(53.6%)

93(66.4%)

47(33.6%)

Tertiary education

60(45.5%)

72(54.5%)

67(50.8%)

65(49.2%)