| Summary: | Background: Premarital sex is penetrative sexual intercourse between couples before formal marriage. In higher institutions, students practiced risky sexual behaviors. These risky sexual behaviors lead them to sexually transmitted diseases and unintended pregnancies, which end in abortion. Methods: The study used an institutional-based cross-sectional study design to collect data from July 1 to July 15, 2021. We used a simple random sampling technique to collect the data. The researchers checked the data for completeness and entered it into statistical software, Epidata 3.1 version. Then we exported it to SPSS version 23 for analysis. The analysis of the data included descriptive and inferential statistics. The variables with a p-value of < 5% at a 95 confidence interval were statistically significant. The results presentation used frequency tables, figures, and descriptions. Results: The magnitude of premarital sexual practice was 40.8% (95CI: 36, 45.7). The mean age of premarital sexual practice was 20.74 years. Premarital sexual practice was more likely among Economics Department Students, [AOR = 2.025, 95%CI (1.116, 3.675)], live with friends, [AOR = 1.885, 95%CI (1.009, 3.519), drinking alcohol 2–3 times per month, [AOR = 2.188, 95%CI (1.331, 3.519)], drinking alcohol 2–3 times per week [AOR = 1.987, 95% CI (1.023, 3.860)], and smoking cigarette, [AOR = 4.365, 95%CI (1.103, 17.275)]. Premarital sex was less likely among Management Department students, [AOR = 0.390, 95%CI (0.189, 0.806)]. Conclusion: The premarital sexual practice among the students was affected by the department of students, living arrangements, sexual health education, and alcohol consumption. The university and government should intervene through sexual health awareness and prevention of risky behavior.
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