Introduction

There are many interrelated factors that affect the sexual and reproductive health of young people in Ethiopia. In Study Sessions 3–6 of this module you have learned about some of the major problems that affect young people’s sexual and reproductive health. In this session you will learn how young people’s sexual and reproductive health can be affected by the use of substances like alcohol, khat, cannabis and cigarettes. There are some direct effects on sexual and reproductive functions but there are also important indirect effects whereby the abuse of substances are shown to be strongly associated with risk-taking behaviours that impact negatively on sexual and reproductive health.