Sexual behaviour of secondary school adolescents in Ilesa, Nigeria: implications for the spread of STIs including HIV/AIDS

Abstract

This research examined the sexual behaviour and perception of the risk of HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among adolescents in Nigerian secondary schools. Quantitative data was collected from 450 senior secondary school 1 and 2 students who were selected from 5 of the 22 co-educational secondary schools in Ilesa using a multistage sampling technique. In addition qualitative data was collected by focus group discussion (FGD) with 8 groups (4 for each of the sexes) of ten randomly selected respondents from 4 other secondary schools. Sixty three per cent had had sexual intercourse. There was no statistically significant (p>0.05) difference between the genders [females (52.3%) males (77.8%)], although males appeared to be more sexually active. The median age at first intercourse was 12 years with a range of 6-19 years. Many of the respondents had multiple sexual partners. There is poor perception of the risk of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) including that of human immune deficiency virus (HIV). It was concluded that there is a high risk of the spread of STIs, including HIV/AIDS in the study population. In view of the high prevalence of sexual intercourse and the reproductive health problems associated with STI, HIV/AIDS, it is recommended that a structured family life education (FLE) curriculum should be instituted for all schools starting at an early age.

Hiv/aids – related knowledge and sexual behaviour among secondary school students in Benin city

“…By age 9 years, some of the students were sexually active. This has been reported in previous studies in Nigeria 26 and elsewhere 13 . For example, the median age at first intercourse was 12 years, with a range of 6-19 years in a study in Western Nigeria 26 .…”

“…This has been reported in previous studies in Nigeria 26 and elsewhere 13 . For example, the median age at first intercourse was 12 years, with a range of 6-19 years in a study in Western Nigeria 26 . Strong associations between adolescent sexual behaviour and interpersonal family relationships, the education, presence, and expectations of parents, and the connectedness of the adolescents to parents and school have been demonstrated in studies in North and South America 24,[27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34] .…”

Evaluation of HIV health services in Lagos State: an empirical study

“…These have increased vulnerabilities to HIV transmission through the use of drugs, "sharps" (surgical instruments: needles and so forth) and fear of stigmatisation. According to Owolabi et al (2005), sexual behaviour among adolescents confirmed that there are knowledge deficits about STIs and HIV with this age of this risk group. Poverty and unemployment in Nigeria contributed to an increase in sex workers and child abuse poses an adverse implication to the economic growth in Sub-Saharan Africa (Whiteside, 2002).…”

The Level of Knowledge about HIV/AIDS among Junior Secondary School Teachers in Osun State, Nigeria

“…As at March, 1990 the AIDS situation in the country was as follows:  70,000 screened  308 confirmed seroportius  21 dead He noted that in general Nigeria has shown little interest in AIDS pandemic. The factors that have contributed to the spread of HIV in Nigeria and indeed in other parts of Africa include poverty, poor health status, low literacy level, high number of young people, inadequate knowledge about the disease, cultural paradigm that encourage promiscuity such as polygamy, violence and cultural pressure to present ones premarital relationship as moral thus preventing young girls from negotiating safer sex [8]- [10].…”