Gender differences in the sexual behaviour of selected adolescents in Southern Nigeria

Abstract

This study investigated the differences in the sexual behaviour of some Nigerian adolescent boys and girls. Five hundred and ninety nine adolescents (299 males and 309 females) from six randomly selected states in Southern Nigeria participated in the study. Mean ages of subjects were 17.38 for boys and 16.65 for girls. Using the Falaye Adolescent' Sexual Behaviour Inventory (FASBI), adolescents' sexual behaviour was assessed using the proximate determinants of attitude towards pubertal changes and reproductive biology, adolescent source of sex information, adolescent sexual activities (intercourse and contraception) and attitude (values and perception) towards reproductive health matters. Five hypotheses were tested at 0.05 level of significance and a research question was also answered in the study. Findings reveal that there are no statistically significant differences in male and female adolescents' sexual behaviour in terms of reactions to pubertal changes, source of sex information and attitudes to reproductive health matters. However, there is a significant difference in the sexual experience and activities of subjects with male subjects indicating a higher mean than females. Also significantly, the study found that southern Nigerian female adolescents commence sexual activities earlier than their male counterparts. Generally however, the mean age of coital debut among Nigerian adolescents is 15.75 years. Implications of findings were highlighted and recommendations for adequate adolescents counselling and sexuality education were made.

The Nigerian Journal of Guidance and Counselling Vol. 9(1) 2004: 240-254