This study assesses the factors that are associated with sexual initiation among female highrnschool adolescents in Addis Ababa by using data collected from 1156 female students in 10rnhigh schools, 5 government and 5 private. The sampling Design employed for this study isrntwo stage stratified sampling. In the first stage the schools to be included in the survey werernselected and in the second stage the students to be considered from each selected schoolsrnwere identified.rnThe study revealed that 6 percent of the sampled students had initiated sex. A relativelyrnhigher proportion of government school students reported to have initiated sex whenrncompared with that of their private school counterparts, i.e. 7 and 3 percent, respectively.rnAccording to the study 47 percent of the girls reported that it was against their will that theyrnhad sex for the first time. 18.2 percent said that they were forced into having sex, 19.7rnpercent said that they were tricked into having sex, and 9.1 percent said that they werernthreatened into having sex.rnAt the bivariate. level the chi-square test revealed the existence of strong association betweenrnthe dependent variable and various background variables. The findings of the multivariaternlogistic regression revealed that the chance of initiating sex for adolescent students who werernliving with their biological parents was found to be almost twice that of those not living withrntheir biological parents. The finding also showed that female students who are in middlernadolescence (13-16 years) were three times more likely to initiate sex than femalernadolescents in late adolescence (above 16 years). With respect to household income,rnadolescent students from high income households (with an estimated monthly earning ofrnabove 800 Birr) were two and half times more likely to initiate sex as compared to low incomernhouseholds (with an estimated monthly earning of below 400 Birr). Adolescent students whorndid not have an income of their own were also found to be three fold as likely to initiate sex asrnthose who had a regular income.rnSince quite a significant proportion of the students were experiencing unsafe sex, the studyrnconcludes by suggesting the need for a continuous and strong lEG and intervention programsrnby all concerned bodies. It further noted the importance of creating a conducive environmentrnfor delaying the sexual initiation of adolescents until they have the physical, cognitive, andrnemotional maturity necessary for sexual relationships