Perceived roles of sex education on reproductive and sexual health habit of in school adolescents in Ilorin Metropolis

Abstract

The study investigated perceived roles of sex education on reproductive and sexual health habit of in-school adolescents in Ilorin Metropolis. Adolescents’ sexual and reproductive health habit is very important as this would determine to a large extent the reproductive health outcome of the adolescents. The study investigated: (i) examine if prevention of unwanted pregnancy will be a perceived role of sex education among in-school adolescents; (ii) investigate whether prevention of STIs will be a perceived role of sex education; (iii)find out if avoidance of risky sexual behaviour will be a perceived role of sex education among in school adolescents. A descriptive research design was employed for this study. Population for this study comprised all adolescents in all secondary schools in Ilorin metropolis, Kwara State. Multistage sampling technique was used to select 480 respondents. A researcher developed questionnaire validated by three experts from the Department of Health Promotion and Environmental Health Education. A correlation co-efficient of .87r was obtained through test re-test method using Pearson Product Moment Correlation. Data collection was collected by the researcher with four trained research assistants. The seven postulated hypotheses were tested using inferential statistics of chi-square at 0.05 alpha level. The findings of this study showed that prevention of unwanted pregnancy was significantly perceived as a role of sex education among in-school adolescents in Ilorin metropolis because calculated ᵪ2 value of 345.53 is > table 2 value of 12.59; STI’s prevention was significantly perceived as a role of sex education among in-school adolescents in Ilorin metropolis because calculated ᵪ2 value of 156.70 is > table 2 value of 12.59 and avoidance of risky sexual behaviour was significantly perceived as a role of education among in-school adolescents in Ilorin metropolis because calculated ᵪ2 value of 337.35 is > table 2 value of 32.67. It was concluded that prevention of unwanted pregnancy, STI’s prevention and avoidance of risky sexual behaviour will be a perceived role of sex education among in-school adolescents in Ilorin metropolis. It was recommended that sex education should be given adequate priority among other subjects being taught in schools to prevent in-school adolescents from getting involved in sexual risky behaviour that could lead to unwanted pregnancy or contracting sexually transmitted infections which could impaired their educational pursuit and even affect their reproductive system, Sex education should emphasis abstinence to help in-school adolescents delay sexual activities in order to focus on their studies and avoid being dropped out of school as a result of unwanted pregnancy and parents and religious leaders should support the teaching of sex education at home and in school, as well as to provide proper information on sex education to their adolescent children in order to develop positive attitude and belief towards sexual relationship.