A school-based study of sexual health knowledge among sexually active adolescent girls in Calabar, Nigeria (original) (raw)
Related papers
Knowledge of HIV and Safety Sexual Practices among Adolescent Girls in Benin-City, Nigeria
Adolescence is a time of emotional, physical and psychological development and contributes substantially to the well being of the individual in adulthood. Consequently, understanding their social and reproductive behaviour is of tremendous policy importance. This study was designed to investigate HIV knowledge and safety sexual practices among adolescent girls in Benin-city, Edo State, Nigeria. Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted among 100 randomly selected female students in SS1 and 2 from two secondary schools in Benin-city. A semi structured questionnaire was self administered to obtain information on respondents' socio-demographic characteristics, knowledge of HIV and safety practices. A 10-point knowledge scale graded, <5 and ≥6 as poor and good knowledge respectively, was used to measure knowledge of HIV; while a 5-point practice scale graded <2 and ≥3 was used as unsatisfactory and satisfactory safety sexual practices on HIV prevention respectively. Descriptive statistics, chi-square test and logistic regression were used to analyse the data with level of significance set at 0.05. Results: The mean age of respondents was 12.70 ± 1.2 years, 50.0% were in SS2 and 65.0% had been in Benin-city from birth. The overall mean knowledge score of respondents was 14.70 ± 4.43 with 60.0%, 20.0%, 40.0% and 70.0% having good knowledge on perinatal/vertical transmission, sexual and parenteral transmission, epidemiological factors and preventive measures respectively. Misconceptions about HIV transmission include: HIV cannot be transmitted through oral sex, HIV can be transmitted by mosquitoes and naked eyes can detect who is infected. In addition, there was a significant difference between class of respondents and their general knowledge of HIV (P < 0.05). Respondents in SS2 were more likely to have good knowledge of HIV than their SS1 counterpart (OR = 3.43 95% CI = 1.461 -8.057). Furthermore, respondents whose mothers attained at least secondary school are more likely to exhibit satisfactory safety sexual practices on HIV prevention than their counter-* Corresponding author.
In Nigeria, adolescents have been long identified as vulnerable to sexually transmitted infections (STIs) including HIV/AIDS. They face multiple challenges including unwanted pregnancies, unsafe abortion, sexual coercion resulting in sexually transmitted infections including HIV and AIDS. The study assessed sexual behavior and knowledge of reproductive health and HIV prevention among secondary school students as part of efforts to plan appropriate interventions among this population. The study employed a cross-sectional study design in which data were collected from 1914 secondary schools students across six states in all the geopolitical zones in Nigeria. Data were collected using 47-item questionnaire which explored the students' socio-demographic characteristic, knowledge of HIV/AIDS and reproductive health, attitude towards HIV prevention and people living with HIV/AIDS, condom use and abstinence and sexual behaviour. Data was analysed using descriptive statistics, Chi-square and t-test at 0.05 level of significance. Majority (93.6%) of the respondents had good knowledge of HIV and other STIs. Females had a slightly higher mean knowledge of HIV and other STIs than their male counterparts (38.4 ±7. 7 vs 37.8 ± 7.5) (p<0.05). Only 22.8% has ever been tested for HIV out of which 25.5% were males and 20.5% were females. More males (24.4%) reported that they had ever experienced sexual intercourse than their female counterparts (13.2%). The overall mean age of sexual debut was 13.9 ± 4.9. Secondary schools students in Nigeria are quite knowledgeable about reproductive health but few practice safe sex. Behavioral change communication needs to be strengthened among these adolescents.
School-Based Sexual Health Education Interventions in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Multiple Case Study
School-based sexual health education is one of the most comprehensive and effective ways of promoting young people's sexual health, reducing risky sexual behaviours and preventing sexually transmitted infections. This study investigated the design, implementation and evaluation of seven school-based sexual health education interventions in five sub-Saharan African countries, to identify features that may be associated with effectiveness or ineffectiveness on self-reported condom use and preventing sexually transmitted infections. A multiple case study design was employed. Data from each intervention were collected through documents review and interviews with key investigators. Data were analysed using a combination of case study methods. The findings confirmed that interventions that had greater numbers of features recommended by previous evidence synthesis studies were more likely to be effective. Findings suggested that young people's sexual health needs assessment could be improved by applying ethnography, and Sexual Script research, which, in turn, could make interventions more effective. School-based interventions should consider environmental factors by incorporating community-based approaches and using ecological models as theories underpinning interventions. Interventions were also more likely to be effective if delivered by both teachers and peer educators. Finally, optimum impact is likely if young people are exposed to interventions for at least two years/academic sessions. Future intervention design should consider these features to optimise effectiveness of school-based sexual health education in sub-Saharan Africa.
Journal of Medicine in the Tropics, 2013
Background: Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are responsible for a variety of health problems especially among the youth who engage in risky sexual behavior. There are few studies that describe STIs among the youths in Northern Nigeria. The objective of the study was to assess knowledge of STIs and risk factors among secondary school youth. Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study in which structured, self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data on socio-demographics, knowledge on STIs, and risk factors. Three senior secondary schools were purposively selected for the study. Results: A total of 1765 youths aged 10-30 years with mean age of 16.9 ± 2.0 years participated in the study. 1371 (77.7%) and 394 (22.3%) were respectively Muslim and Christian. Mean age at first sexual intercourse was 16.7 ± 2.0 years. A majority (67.6%) of them heard about STIs; sources of information of STIs were school lessons 23.6%, mass media 23.3%, and health magazines 19.2%, respectively. Generally, knowledge on STIs was good as 75.4% of respondents knew how the disease is transmitted. This knowledge was significantly associated with class of student, place of treatment, and religious teaching (χ 2 = 9.6, P = 0.047, χ 2 = 22.1, P = 0.035 and 42.6, P = 0.001, respectively). Mean knowledge score was 0.698 ± 0.01. A majority of respondents were engaged in risky sexual behavior as only 16.2% use condom as a preventive measure. Eleven percent reported ever having an STI in the past and majority (52.8%) go to government hospital for treatment of acquired STI. 56% of the youth had two or more boy/girl friends and 30% had sexual relationships. Conclusion: It was concluded that secondary school youth had good knowledge about STIs; however, the opposite is true when it comes to preventive practice (use of condom). Interventions such as periodic publicity awareness and school seminars focusing on STI preventions are needed to control the disease among the youth.
Education and Sexuality: Towards Addressing Adolescents' Reproductive Health Needs in Nigeria
The aim of this study is to assess the crucial role of sexuality education in addressing adolescents' reproductive health needs within the backdrops of immense challenges in Nigerian environment. Young people have been well documented as a special need group in the area of reproductive health. Adolescent sexuality and reproductive health are important contemporary concerns especially for reproductive health problems such as early marriage, unintended/unwanted pregnancy, maternal mortality and sexually transmitted diseases, including AIDS. A large number of adolescents in Nigeria decide to be more sexually active without access to preventive measure, such as condoms or family planning devices and thus face undesired consequences, including unwanted pregnancies, Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs), including the Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) and the social consequences of both. In fact, adolescents have a higher prevalence of most reproductive health problems because of lack of information and poor access to service. However, one of the 2004 Nigerian National Population Policy objectives is increasing the integration of adolescents and young people into development efforts and effectively addressing their reproductive health and related needs. The study, which relies mainly on secondary data, examines the crucial role and benefits of sexuality education against the backdrops of the challenges including reaching the youths with sexuality and reproductive information and service, or motivating them to change behavior in the light of new information and awareness, more institutional support and creating the social and economic climate, which will make the desired changes possible and sustainable. The author contends that it is a violation of ones fundamental human rights and freedom guaranteed by numerous international, regional and national policies as well as legal instruments when attempts are made to control rather than educate people to freely express their sexuality positively and in good health. Thus, there is need for all stakeholders to acknowledge the reality of adolescent sexuality and teach them how to be healthy sexual beings without endangering themselves and others.
Adolescents in Northern Uganda are at risk of teenage pregnancies, unsafe abortions and sexually transmitted infections (STIs). There is silence on sex both at home and school. This cross sectional descriptive analytical study interviews a random sample of 827 students and 13 teachers on knowledge, perception and acceptability to a comprehensive adolescent sexual and reproductive health education in " O " and " A " level secondary schools in Gulu District. Quantitative data was analysed using SPSS 16.0. Directed content analysis of themes of transcribed qualitative data was conducted manually for common codes, sub-categories and categories. Of the 827 students; 54.3% (449) reported being in a sexual relationship especially those aged 15–17 years. Majority 96.1% (807) supported the teaching of a comprehensive ASRHE, citing no negative impact 71.5% (601). Majority 81.6% (686) agreed that such education could help prevention of STIs, abortions and teenage pregnancies, and that it should be taught by health workers 69.0% (580). Majority 76.6% (203) reported that ASRHE was not currently being taught in their schools. Students had low knowledge levels and misconceptions about ASRHE. ASRHE was highly acceptable though not being emphasized; its success in school settings requires multidisciplinary culturally sensitive approaches amongst which health workers should be frontiers.
African Sociological Review / Revue Africaine de Sociologie, 2015
The adolescent age is the period of sexual identity when adolescents make sense of their feeling and turn them into actions. This stage requires adequate knowledge of sexual behaviours so that adolescents will not rely on peer group for information. This is because of the far reaching effects it may have on them and the society at large due to misinformation and the consequences of the high risk sexual behaviours they may engage in like sexually transmitted diseases. This study therefore aims at accessing the knowledge and sources of information of STDs among adolescents in the Asa local government area of Kwara State, north central region of Nigeria. The study was carried out in three public secondary schools in Ogbondoroko and Laduba towns, suburbs of the capital city, Ilorin. Information was gathered through questionnaire administration. A total of 240 questionnaires were administered to (SS1), (SS2) and (SS3) students in the study area and in all 210 were retrieved representing 88% return rate. The study made use of tables and simple percentages to present the data retrieved from the field, while the F-test and T-test statistical tools were used to show the relationship between the variables. Findings revealed that adolescents in the study area have a fair knowledge of sexually transmitted diseases. The study also shows a significant relationship between class and knowledge of STDs as test shows a statistical significant relationship P<0.05. While age and sex show no significant relationship with knowledge of STDs as P>0.05.The study suggests that mass enlightenment programmes in schools by government and other relevant agencies in the study area is key to adequate knowledge of STDs in the area.
School-based sexual health education is one of the most comprehensive and effective ways of promoting young people's sexual health, reducing risky sexual behaviours and preventing sexually transmitted infections. This study investigated the design, implementation and evaluation of seven school-based sexual health education interventions in five sub-Saharan African countries, to identify features that may be associated with effectiveness or ineffectiveness on self-reported condom use and preventing sexually transmitted infections. A multiple case study design was employed. Data from each intervention were collected through documents review and interviews with key investigators. Data were analysed using a combination of case study methods. The findings confirmed that interventions that had greater numbers of features recommended by previous evidence synthesis studies were more likely to be effective. Findings suggested that young people's sexual health needs assessment could be improved by applying ethnography, and Sexual Script research, which, in turn, could make interventions more effective. School-based interventions should consider environmental factors by incorporating community-based approaches and using ecological models as theories underpinning interventions. Interventions were also more likely to be effective if delivered by both teachers and peer educators. Finally, optimum impact is likely if young people are exposed to interventions for at least two years/academic sessions. Future intervention design should consider these features to optimise effectiveness of school-based sexual health education in sub-Saharan Africa.
Knowledge of reproductive health issues among secondary school adolescents in Calabar, Nigeria
Global Journal of Medical Sciences, 2004
Background: Awareness about HIV/AIDS has been created through the media, workshops, and peer education and printed materials. The aim of this study was to establish the impact of these awareness programmes on student. Method: An observational study using structured questionnaire among secondary school students. Results: About 181 (31.2%) of the adolescents did not know the aetiological agents of HIV/AIDS. Majority, 522 (90%) knew HIV/AIDS was transmitted through sexual intercourse. This level of knowledge was related to sex and class of study. Only 78 (13.4%) of them knew that HIV carriers might look normal. Majority, 519 (89.5%) did not know the features of AIDS. Only a few, 281 (48.4%) of the adolescents knew that avoidance of sex, keeping one sexual partner, 15 (2.6%), use of condom 101 (17.4%) and screening blood before transfusion, 31 (5.3%) could prevent HIV/AIDS transmission. Mass media was the main source of information on HIV/AIDS to these adolescents. About 191, (32.9%) of them believed HIV/AIDS cannot be prevented; 228 (39.3%) felt HIV/AIDS is common among the uneducated; 127 (21.9%) thought it is not common in Nigeria and 143 (24.7%) believed it is not common among the youths. Conclusion: Although awareness on HIV/AIDS is high among Secondary School adolescents in Calabar, the knowledge of the disease is still poor. Mass media as a source of information does not allow in-depth knowledge of the disease. Parents, teachers, as well as Health workers should be more involved in educating the youth on this dreaded disease. Les mots clés VIH/SIDA, la conscience, la connaissance, l'école secondaire Résumé Fond: la Conscience de VIH/SIDA a été créée par la presse, les ateliers, l'éducation de pair et les matériels imprimés. Le but de cette étude était d'établir l'impact de ces programmes de conscience sur l'étudiant. Méthode: une étude d'observation en utilisant le questionnaire structuré parmi les étudiants d'école secondaire. Résultats: à peu près 181 (31,2 %) des adolescents n'ont pas connu les agents aétiologiques de VIH/SIDA. La majorité, 522 (90%) a connu que VIH/SIDA a été transmis par les relations sexuelles. Ce niveau de connaissance a été attribué au sexe et à la classe d'étude. Seulement 78 (13,4 %) d'eux ont connu que les porteurs de VIH peuvent paraître normaux. La majorité, 519 (89,5 %) n'ont pas connu les caractéristiques de SIDA. Seulement quelques-uns, 281 (48,4 %) des adolescents ont connu que l'abstinence, gardant un partenaire sexuel, 15 (2,6%), l'usage de préservatif 101 (17,4 %) le criblage de sang avant la transfusion, 31 (5,3 %) pourrait empêcher la transmission de VIH/SIDA. Les médias étaient la source principale d'information sur VIH/SIDA à ces adolescents. Environ 191, (32,9 %) d'eux ont cru que VIH/SIDA ne peut pas être prevenu; 228 (39,3 %) ont pensé que VIH/SIDA est commun parmi les incultes; 127 (21,9 %) ont pensé 3 Knowledge of HIV/AIDS among secondary school adolescents. Oyo-Ita A. E. et al. qu'il n'est pas commun au Nigéria et 143 (24,7 %) ont cru qu'il n'est pas commun parmi les jeunes. Conclusion: bien Que la conscience sur VIH/SIDA est haute parmi les adolescents d'école secondaires à Calabar, la connaissance de la maladie est toujours inadéquate. Les médias comme une source d'information ne permet pas la connaissance approfondie de la maladie. Les parents, les enseignants, de même que les ouvriers de santé devrait être plus impliqués dans l'éducation des jeunes sur cette maladie redoutée.