Predictive Influence of Factors Predisposing Secondary School Adolescents Dropouts to Sexual Risk Behaviour in Ogun State

Abstract

This study examined the predictive influence of factors predisposing secondary school adolescents’ dropouts to sexual risk behaviour in Ogun state, Nigeria. The study adopted a descriptive survey research design which sought to determine Adolescents sexual risk behaviours among in – school adolescents in Ogun state. A descriptive was adopted for this study. The participants in the study were sexually active adolescents from Ogun state. These adolescents were primarily from secondary schools adolescent dropouts. They were drawn from Sapon, Itoko, Itoku, Onikolobo, Wari, Eleweeran, Ake, Isabo, Adatan and Ita-Osin in Abeokuta South and North Local government areas of Ogun State. The sample for this study was composed of 400 randomly selected sexually active adolescents (118 males and 337 females) with a mean age of 15.6 years (SD = 1.2; range = 13-19 years old). The result showed that sexual risk behaviour correlates with: (1). Sexual risk attitude (r = .120; p < .05), (2). Parent/peer approval of condom use (r = .114; p> .05), , attitude about personal use of condoms (r = .638; p>.05), gender (r = .555; p>.05). However, there is negative correlation between knowledge associated with transmission of HIV and sexual risk behaviour (r = .006; NS). There were other significant inter-correlations among the independent variables. Further, revealed that attitude about personal use of condoms made the most significant contribution (Beta = .580; t = 9.690; P < 0.05) to the prediction. Other variables also made significant contributions in this descending order (gender: Beta = .175; t = 3.215; P < 0.05);  (parent/peer approval of condom use: Beta = .155; t = 4.194; p <0.05); (sexual risk attitude: Beta = .122; t = 2.684; p <0.05); knowledge associated with transmission of HIV: Beta = .062; t = 1.628; p < 0.05). Based on the result of the findings, it was recommended that the quality and quantity of messages targeting young people should be increased as mass media is clearly an effective tool for getting information to young people about STIs/HIV/AIDS prevention needs.

Keywords: Personal use of condoms, parent and peer approval of condom use, Sexual Risk Behaviour