Traditional Gender Roles As Precursors Of Risky Sexual Behaviour And Decisions Among Intimate Partners In Ibadan, Nigeria

Abstract

This study established the influence of traditional gender roles on the risky sexual behaviours and decisions among intimate partners in Ibadan metropolis in Oyo state, Nigeria. A total of nine hundred (900) couples involved in the study were randomly selected from five different professions in Ibadan metropolis constituted the samples for the study. The two validated instruments used for the study were author-constructed questionnaires with 0.69 and 0.71 reliability coefficient respectively. Multiple regression analysis was employed to determine the joint and relative contributions of the independent variables to the predictions of the dependent variable. The result obtained from the study indicated that a combination of the five independent variables significantly predicted the dependent variable .The results also indicated that four of the five independent variables independently significantly predicted criterion measure except sexual abstinence. Based on the results of these findings, it was recommended that those in the helping professions should take cognizance of those variables that have been found to influence risky sexual behaviours and decisions among couples. The result also recommends intervention strategy to help couples achieve a better reproductive health behaviour, relationship and decision-making.

Keywords: Traditional Gender role, sexual behaviours , sexual decisions, intimate partners, reproductive health , extra marital relationship

African Journal for the Psychological Study of Social Issues Vol. 11 (1&2) 2008: pp. 3-12