Conselling Implications of Sexual Behabiour of Nigerian Undergraduates

Abstract

Within the structure of the university environment in which the students resides to acquire their first degree, this paper analyses the determinants of sexual behaviour of University of Benin undergraduates. Age, gender, willingness to indulge in pre-mental sexual activities, peer influence, desire for money, usage of contraceptive amongst others were investigated. The descriptive survey method was adopted for this study. A questionnaire on some determinants of sexual behaviour was used in gathering information from the respondents. A sample size of three hundred and forty-four undergraduates was used for the study. Data was analysed using percentages. Result showed that most respondents 73.0% willingly indulged in sexual activities and 54.4% had sex for the fun of it. It was also found that there is high usage of conceptive/condoms, in that 67.6% of the respondents indicated that they made use of contraceptives, while 35.6% of the females indicated that they have had abortions. The result also showed that the age bracket in which undergraduates mostly indulge in sexual activity is within the ages of 15-25years. It is recommended that, there is the need for government, non-governmental agencies and the general public to be more proactive in addressing issues bothering on adolescents sexual behaviour. Health enlightenment programmes on sex education should be provided in Nigeria universities. Counsellors should introduce behaviour modification therapy in counselling undergraduates who indulge in risky sexual behaviours.

Keywords: Undergraduates, sexual behaviour, adolescents, pre-marital sex.