ISSN 2756-3332
African Journal of Nursing and Midwifery ISSN 2756-3332 Vol. 9 (1), pp. 001-007, January, 2021. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Risky sexual behaviour among undergraduates in Rivers State, Nigeria: A descriptive survey
Eunice O. Osuala1, Oluebubechukwu A. Udi1, Basil N. Ogbu1 and Idang N. Ojong2
1Department of Nursing Science, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, PAMO University of Medical Sciences, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria.
2Department of Nursing Science, Faculty of Allied Medical Sciences, University of Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria.
Accepted 03 January, 2021
Abstract
The concern to explore risky sexual behaviour among youths has been on the increase in Nigeria following frequent reports of sexual abuse among young people. The aim of the survey is to determine the practice of risky sexual behaviour among students of tertiary institutions. Cross-sectional survey was conducted using a questionnaire adapted from World Health Organisation survey instrument to collect data on the practice of risky sexual behaviours among year one and year two Medical and Nursing undergraduate students at two tertiary institutions in Rivers State, Nigeria. A total of 280 participants were randomly selected. Descriptive analysis and multiple regression was carried out using SPSS version 21.0, statistical significance was p value of ≤ 0.05. About 33.6% of the participants reported to have had sexual contact prior to this survey. About 14.9% of this number had first intercourse at age ≤15 while over 44% have ≤3 lifetime sexual partners. In addition, only 29.8% recently had intercourse in the last two to six months. Undergraduates engage in risky sexual behaviours and there is need for continuous and intensified public health strategies on health education and reproductive health services to address the sexual and reproductive health needs of undergraduate students.
Keywords: Risky sexual behaviours, practice, undergraduate students, youth, tertiary institutions.