Risky sexual behaviour and associated factors among female students of a Tertiary institution in North-Central Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Human sexual behaviour is the way in which humans experience and express their sexuality. It could be risky and non-risky. Risky  sexual behaviours including early sexual debut, unprotected sexual intercourse, multiple sexual partners and having sex under the influence of  alcohol or drugs.

Objective: This study assessed the sexual practices and factors associated with risky-sexual behaviour of the female students.

Methodology: This was a cross-sectional study involving 400 female students of the Plateau State Polytechnic. The subjects were selected from all  the departments using a two-stage sampling technique. A pretested semi-structured selfadministered questionnaire was used to obtain relevant  information from the subject. Analysis was done using IBMSPSS 22.0. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05.

Results: Sixty-four percent of the respondents had sexual debut at age 19-23 years. Fifty-two percent had sex with only one partner within the last  six months while respondent's sexual partners were mostly male. About 92% practiced vaginal sex, 6.2% oral sex and 2.3% anal sex. Less than one-quarter and 19.2% of the study participants used condom always and did negotiate for safer sex respectively. There was a significant association  between substance use and risky-sexual behaviour.

Conclusion: There is a high prevalence of risky-sexual behaviours among the study cohort.  These were seen from the high percentage of the female students who had sexual debut before the age of 18 years, unprotected sexual intercourse  as well as multiple sexual partners. Substance use, desire for pleasure, expression of love, and quest for money were the factors  associated with sexual behaviour of the cohort.