Peer-reviewed open access journal Continuous publishing model

Open access scholarly publishing

Journal of Behavioral Health and Psychology

A modern publishing platform for behavioral health research, mental health scholarship, and interdisciplinary evidence shared through an open, online-first model.

Open Access Peer Reviewed Behavioral Health

Current publishing cycle

Editorial updates

Follow new and recently accepted papers as they move through the journal.

2.809 Impact factor
Open Access model

Article details

Sexual risk behaviors among adolescents attending secondary schools in a Southwestern State in Nigeria

Adeleye Abiodun Adeomi, Oluwatosin Adediran Adeoye, Adefisoye Adewole, Oluwaseyi Israel, Abiola Temitayo-Oboh

Abstract

Introduction: Several studies in Nigeria have reported high rates of risky sexual activities among adolescents. This study, therefore, aimed to describe the sexual risk behaviors among adolescents attending secondary schools in a Southwestern State in Nigeria. Materials and Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study, carried out among in-school adolescents in Osun State, Southwestern Nigeria. The multi-stage sampling technique was used to select the respondents, and data were collected with pre-tested, semi-structured questionnaires which were self-administered and supervised by trained research assistants. A total of 815 questionnaires was administered, but only 786 (96.4%) were properly filled and analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 16. Results: Many of the respondents (406, 51.7%) were early adolescents, while the remaining 380 (48.3%) were late adolescents with a mean age of 14.2 ± 2.2 years. One hundred and eight (22.9%) were sexually exposed with a mean age of sexual debut of 12.7 ± 2.7 years. Of the 180 that were sexually exposed, 134 (74.4%) had sex in the month preceding the study, 40 (22.2%) had paid for or demanded for payment for sex before, and only 48 (26.7%) used condom for their last sexual intercourse. Only 2 (0.3%) respondents reported having had sexually transmitted infections (STI), but, 128 (16.3%) had had symptoms suggestive of STI before. Conclusion: There was a high level of sexual risk behaviors among the respondents with 22.9% of them being sexually exposed with a mean age at sexual debut of 12.7 ± 2.7 years. Public health interventions to prevent human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome should target adolescents in their early ages before they initiate sexual activity.