6. Sexual Behaviour and Reproductive Health Among Female Senior Secondary School Students in Abakaliki LGA, Ebonyi State

Abstract

Objective:
To investigate the sexual behaviour and reproductive health amongst female senior secondary school students.

Methods:
Using cross-sectional descriptive study 374 students were studied. Information was collected on their sexual behaviours, knowledge of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), prevalence of induced abortion and knowledge of health consequences of these practices.

Results:
Of the 81 (21.7%) sexually active students, pressure from friends in 24.7%, and desire for sex in 23.5% were the commonest reasons for having sex. The modal age at debut sexual encounter was 15 - 19 years. Condom use was reported in 58%: this was neither associated with age, class nor knowledge of STIs. Knowledge of sexually transmitted infections, including HIV was reported by 43.9%: this was not influenced by age or class. There was also no association between ever having had sex and knowledge of STIs. However, there was a statistically significant association between knowledge of STIs and both mother's (p<0.0129) and father's education (p<0.0001). There was a 12% prevalence of induced abortion among the respondent, constituting 51% of the sexually active students: 26.8% of these had had more than three induced abortion.

CONCLUSION:
The high percentage of sexually active female secondary school students and the high prevalence of induced abortion among them reflect the poor adolescent sexual behaviour in the area of this study. Sex education and counselling services should begin at home, and be compulsorily included in secondary school curricula. Intervention programs to provide life skills for adolescents should include peer educators, parents, school authorities and religious organizations.


Keywords: Female adolescent, sexual behaviour and reproductive health, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State

Orient Journal of Medicine Vol. 19 (1-4) 2007: pp. 31-37