PATTERNS OF REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH AND SEXUAL BEHAVIOURS AMONG FEMALE UNDERGRADUATES IN OSUN STATE SOUTH WEST NIGERIA

Abstract

Background: Sexually transmitted infections including HIV/AIDS in addition to induced abortion continue to exert huge cost in human lives and material resources especially in developing countries. Among the morbidities resulting from these reproductive health diseases are chronic pelvic pains and infertility with further grave consequences on marital harmony and quality of life that may last the entire life of the individual woman. Young Females in the age group of those in Colleges and Universities constitute a majority of the victims.

Objectives: To determine the practices and the risks of unsafe reproductive health behaviors among female undergraduates in south-western Nigeria.

Methodology: A cross-sectional survey of reproductive health knowledge, sexual practices as relates to contraceptive use, multiple sexual partners, unwanted pregnancy and induced abortion among the female students in three Universities in Osogbo, Osun State, South Western Nigeria. The responses were analyzed using descriptive statistics, and bivariate and multivariate analysis.

Results: Many Nigerian undergraduates initiated sex at an early age and have multiple sexual partners. These two factors are statistically significantly associated with risk of induced abortion (p < 0.05). Mothers did not give safe reproductive health information to their daughters. Many respondents were aware of STI and modern contraception, yet emergency contraceptives were being used inappropriately by Nigerian Undergraduates.

Conclusions: There is a high magnitude of unsafe reproductive health behaviours and sexual practices among undergraduates in this environment. This calls for behavioral change intervention in other to enhance safety in reproductive health lives of the female undergraduates in south-western Nigeria.