ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To define the profile and risk factors of sexual attitude and behavior of rural women.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Using stratified cluster sampling, tape-recorded interviews and face to face interviews were carried out among 606 rural women.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>24.6% of the women being studied accepted the idea of "premarital sexual intercourse" and thought "premarital sexual intercourse between a couple" acceptable accounted for 34.2%, 14.7% and 4% of the women reported having had premarital sexual intercourse and premarital induced abortion respectively. 5.0% of the women admitted having had sexual intercourse during menstruation. 4% and 3% of the women under study accepted "extramarital sexual intercourse" and "paid sexual intercourse" if they were in need of money. None of the women reported ever having had extramarital sex or paid sex. The results derived from two different methods did not differ significantly. Logistic rgression suggested that age, education and ethnicity were associated with attitude towards premarital sex, and age was associated with premarital sexual behavior.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Sex education need to be promoted and targeted among rural population at early age. "Tape-recorded interview" method did not show a better validity in this study.</p>