Knowledge and Perception of Sexuality Education among Students of a Rural Secondary School in Kwara State, Nigeria

Abstract

Sexuality education is a life long process of acquiring information and forming attitudes, beliefs and values about gender towards building a strong foundation for sexual health. All theories of adolescent development give sexuality a central role in negotiating the transition from child to adult. Sexuality education takes place on a daily basis in homes, schools, faith-based institutions, and through the media. This research work was thus carried out among students of a rural secondary school to determine knowledge and perception of sexuality education with the aim to identifying the problems and recommend effective strategies for efficient sexuality behavioural and life style needed to mature into sexually healthy adults. One hundred and fifty questionnaires were distributed to randomly selected students of JSS 1 to SS3. A total of One hundred and thirteen questionnaires were returned representing a response of 75.3%. Awareness of sexuality education was high (72.3%) among the respondents though through informal strategy. Many of the respondents would therefore like a formal programme included in the post primary schools curriculum. This study demonstrated that 70% of the respondent aged between 10-18 years had never discussed about sex with their parents. This observation was more among the SSS2 (36.5%) and JSS1 (92.3%) respondents. However, 54.5% of the older respondents aged above 18 years had discussed about sex with their parents. This was done more by the respondents in the SSS 2 class (63.5%). All respondents agreed that sexuality education be introduced and made compulsory in schools. The study recommends the introduction of sexuality education into the secondary school curricula, immediate training and re- training of specialised skilful personnel for the teaching of sexuality education in Nigeria, sexual education should be made a compulsory subject, and mass mobilisation of parents towards home sexuality education.

Nigerian Medical Practitioner Vol. 52 (3) 2007: pp. 55-59