Effect of school-based peer-led education and mobile phone interventions on sexuality-related knowledge of adolescents In Ibadan, Nigeria

Abstract

Adolescent sexuality has proven to be of public concern with many undesirable consequences. The main objective of the study was to determine the effectiveness of peer-led education and mobile phone messaging on knowledge of adolescents on sexuality issues. The study employed a quasi-experimental design with 120 in-school adolescents selected through a multi-stage sampling technique from four (4) secondary schools within Ibadan. A validated instrument was used for data collection. Findings showed that the adolescents’ level of sexuality-related information had a significant increase after the intervention. The group with combined interventions better predicted higher knowledge scores (mean diff = 3.733; effect size = 0.798; t29 = 10.782; p < 0.01). In conclusion, the combination of interventions was more effective in increasing the level of sexuality-related knowledge of adolescents in Ibadan. The study recommended that multiple interventions should be contextualized to address the cognitive skills of adolescents towards sexual-risk behaviors.

Key words: Adolescents, Reproductive Health, Peer-led Education, Mobile Phone, Sexuality