Reproductive Knowledge, Sexual Behaviour and Contraceptive Use among Adolescents in Niger State of Nigeria

Abstract

Code Number: rh03007 ABSTRACT Eight hundred and ninety six adolescents aged 11-25 years were recruited into this study using a multi-stage random sampling method. Overall, about 33% of them had already had first sexual experience but more males than females reported having experienced first sexual encounter. Only 3.6% of the respondents were married. One half of the sexually experienced adolescents had more than one sexual partner at the time of the study. Majority of the respondents (91.9%) had heard about HIV/AIDS and at least a STD. A wide disparity was found in knowledge and use of the contraceptive methods studied, ranging from 41.9% to 63.8% for knowledge and from 0.7% to 12.5% for use. Knowledge and use of condom was highest. For prevention of HIV/AIDS, more males than females thought condom was useful. More Gwari and Hausa respondents claimed that they did not use any family planning method during their first sexual relationship than Yoruba and Igbo respondents. There is need for reproductive health programmes to intensify efforts towards improving adolescents' attitudes to risky sexual behaviours and motivate them to undertake behaviours that would limit such risks. Les comportements reproductifs, sexuels et contraceptifs des adolescents dans l'Etat de Niger au Nigéria. Huit cent quatre-vingt-seize adolescents âgés de 11-25 ans ont été recrutés pour faire partie de cette étude qui a été effectué à l'aide de la méthode d'échantillonnage à multiples étapes. D'ensemble, environ 33% d'eux avaient déjà eu un premier rapport sexuel, mais il y avaient plus des hommes qui avaient déclaré avoir eu une première expérience du rapport sexuel. Seuls 3,6% des interrogés étaient mariés. La moitié des adolescents qui étaient sexuellement expérimentés avaient plus d'un partenaire sexuel au moment où l'étude a été menée. La majorité des interrogés (91,9%) étaient au courant de l'existence du VIH/SIDA et au moins d'une MST. Il y avait un grand écart entre la connaissance et l'emploi des méthodes contraceptives, qui allait de 41,9% jusqu'à 63,8% pour la connaissance et de 0,7% à 12,5% pour l'emploi. La connaissance et l'emploi du préservatif étaient les plus élevés. Quant à la prévention du VIH/SIDA, il y avait plus des hommes que des femmes qui ont pensé que le préservatif était utile. Plus des interrogés d'origine gwari et haoussa que les interrogés d'origine yorubas et ibo ont déclaré qu'ils n'avaient pas employé la méthode de planification familiale au cours de leurs premiers rapports sexuels. Il faut que les programmes de la santé reproductive intensifient leurs efforts vers l'amélioration des attitudes des adolescents envers les comportements sexuels à risque et de les motiver de façon à ce qu'ils puissent se comporter de manière à réduire de tels risques. (Rev Afr Santé Reprod 2003; 7[1]: 37-48)

Knowledge about HIV/AIDS and Sexual Practices among Automobile Repair Workers in Ibadan, Southwest Nigeria

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Reproductive Health in Nigeria

“…There is a general decline in the age of sexual debut, as is found in other parts of the world. [24][25][26] This may be related mainly to a loss of family values and cultural values. The mass media have also influenced youths negatively, and a study found that adolescents whose older siblings had indulged in premarital sex were likely to follow suit.…”

Gender and Sexual Risk-Taking Among Selected Nigerian University Students

“…Crucially, the gender structure and asymmetries depicted above are influenced and nurtured by customs, cultures, and traditions, which are difficult to change (Nwankwo 2001;Sunmola et al 2003). The inference drawn from these essentialist gender perspectives is that women in sub-Saharan Africa imbibe the putatively static customs, cultures, and traditions that make them vulnerable to STIs and other patterned asymmetries without penetration, contestation, and agency.…”