Sexual risk behaviours among students in ile-ife, osun state, nigeria

M.I. Ofili¹*, B. A. Oyeleye², I. Onyesom³ And A. Akintomide⁴

¹Department of Nursing Science, Delta State University Abraka (Nigeria) ²Department of Nursing Science, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife (Nigeria) ³Department of Medical Biochemistry, Delta State University Abraka (Nigeria) 4Department of Medicine, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife (Nigeria)

ABSTRACT: Studies have shown that adolescents engage in unprotected precocious sexual intercourse and this makes them highly vulnerable to sexually transmitted diseases (STD) and HIV infection. However, information about such sexual risk behaviour in South Western Nigeria is scarce. Therefore, this research attempts to determine the rate of and contributing factors to coital act among students in Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria. One hundred and sixty (160) students between 14 and 22 years of age were randomly selected from four secondary schools in Ile-Ife Central Local Government Area of Osun State, and interviewed using structured questionnaire guide. The results show that 36.3% (58) have experienced sexual intercourse, while 20.0% (32) have not and the remaining 43.8% (70) declined response. Of the numbers who have had sexual intercourse, 1.3% (2), 10.6% (17), 22.5% (36), 1.3% (2), and 0.6% (1) had it when they were between 8-10, 11-13, 14 – 16, 17 – 19 and 20 – 22 years of age, respectively. Data also show evidence for gender unbias poor knowledge attitude to sexual risk behaviour and the identified major contributory factors include curiosity, peer pressure, poor parental counseling, co education and inadequate curriculum in sex education. Overall, many students in Ile – Ife are predisposed to STD because of their high engagement in sexual risk behaviour. Further information on the prevalence of STD and related diseases, unwanted (unplanned) pregnancies, abortions or attempted abortions among students and unmarried youths in Ile-Ife should be documented. Government should entrench sex education into school curriculum and parents or guardians should provide counsel for their children and wards.

KEYWORDS: Sexual risk; Students; Ile-Ife; Sexual intercourse

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