BackgroundEarly adolescent sexual activity remains a recurring problem with negative psychosocial and health outcomes. The age at sexual debut varies from place to place and among different individuals and is associated with varying factors. The aim was to determine the prevalence and risk factors of early sexual debut among secondary school students in Ido-Ekiti, South-West Nigeria.MethodologyThis was a cross-sectional study. The respondents were selected using multi-stage sampling technique. Pre-tested, semi-structured, self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 15.ResultsMore than two-thirds, 40(67.8%), had early sexual debut. The prevalence of early sexual debut was about 11%. The mean age of sexual debut was 13.10±2.82; the mean age for early sexual debutants was 11.68±1.98. The mean number of sexual partners was 2.44±1.99. Male gender, having friends who engaged in sexual activities had association with early sexual exposure (p<0.05). Alcohol intake had the strongest strength of association for early sexual debut among the students.ConclusionThe high prevalence of early sexual exposure among the students calls for urgent interventions to stem the trend. This will help to reduce the devastating negative psycho-social and health sequels.

No abstract

Male partner education, subsidized/free contraceptives and mobile/community services will improve compliance.

Implanon, a single rod sub-dermal implant is a relatively new contraceptive which offers long term reversible contraception for women. This study seeks to determine the safety, efficacy and acceptor characteristics of Implanon at the family planning clinic of University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH), Ilorin, Nigeria. This study involves a retrospective review of 88 clients who used Implanon from January 2007 to December 2011 at the family planning clinic of the UITH, Ilorin. Of the 2,456 clients who had contraception during the period, 88 had Implanon giving a 3.6% uptake. The mean age of Implanon users in the study was 33.4 years, no teenager used the method and 72 (81.8%) knew about the method from clinic staff. Women with two living children constituted 29 (33%) of the total users, 78(88.6%) users had at least secondary education, all except one client were married and religion did not influence its use. Twenty two (25%) users had side effects, the commonest being menstrual irregularity in 13(59%) of the participants. Discontinuation rate was 26.1% and the commonest reason for discontinuation was the desire to get pregnant 8(35%). The Pearl Index for Implanon in the study was 0. Implanon is an effective long term hormonal contraceptive appropriate in a wide range of women with tolerable side effect profile but is currently underutilised. Wider publicity, education and access are needed to improve client uptake..

No abstract