Assessment of Sexual Health practices and experiences of In-School Adolescents in a Rural Community in Rivers State, Nigeria

Oku AO; Fajola A; Obiagwu PN; Alali A; Adetula B; Ogunlaja AO; Gabriel O; Ejiogu M

doi:10.61386/imj.v19i3.1174

Authors

Oku AO Department of Community Health, Renaissance Africa Energy Company, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria
Fajola A Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, University of Calabar, Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria
Obiagwu PN Department of Pediatrics, Bayero University, Kano, Kano State, Nigeria
Alali A Department of Community Health, Renaissance Africa Energy Company, Port Harcourt, Nigeria
Adetula B Department of Community Health, Renaissance Africa Energy Company, Port Harcourt, Nigeria
Ogunlaja AO Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Bowen University, Iwo, Ogbomoso, Nigeria
Gabriel O Department of Community Health, Renaissance Africa Energy Company, Port Harcourt, Nigeria
Ejiogu M Department of Community Health, Renaissance Africa Energy Company, Port Harcourt, Nigeria

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.61386/imj.v19i3.1174

Keywords:

Adolescents, sexual experiences, risky sexual behaviour, in-school, rural, Rivers State

Abstract

Context: Adolescents' sexual health practices have emerged as a major public health concern. Several studies report that adolescents engage in unhealthy sexual behaviour that predisposes them to reproductive health problems. This study therefore aimed at assessing the sexual health practices and experiences of in-school adolescents in a rural community in Rivers State.

Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional analytical study among 231 in-school adolescents in Edagberi Better land community of Rivers State was conducted. Community Secondary school Edagberi is one of Renaissance Africa Energy Company supported schools. A self-administered adapted WHO Sexual Health assessment of practices and experiences (SHAPE) questionnaire was used to elicit information and data analyzed using SPSS version 25.0.

Results: The mean age of respondents was 14.4 ± 2.13 years. The prevalence of sexually exposed in-school adolescents was (14.3%) with mean age at first sexual intercourse of 13.6 ± 2.84 years. The main reasons for indulging in sexual activity were just for pleasure 48.5%, watched it on television/ internet 33.3% and forced by someone 33.3%. More students initiated sexual activity early (90.9%), had multiple sexual partners (51.5%) and engaged in unprotected sex (36.3%). Predictors of sexual exposure were male sex (OR 2.98; 95% CI 1.24 -3.92), being > 14 years (OR 1.86 95% CI 0.62- 0.82) and from a polygamous family (OR 2.13; 95%CI 0.13-0.87).

Conclusions: With 14.3% of adolescents engaging in sexual activity, the authors recommends that appropriate sexual and reproductive health interventions targeted at male students, older than 14 years and from a polygamous family should be implemented.