Sexual Practices and Knowledge about HIV/AIDS among
Nigerian Secondary School Students
Tolulope M Ola1, Bosede A Oludare2
1Department
of Sociology, Faculty of the Social Sciences, University
of Ado-Ekiti, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria.
2Department
of Curriculum and Instruction, University of Ibadan,
Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria.
*For
Correspondence:
Tel: +234
806 929 0723
E-mail:
tolulopeola2003@yahoo.co.uk
International Journal of Health Research,
December
2008; 1(4):
197-205 (e146p49-57)
Received:
12-Dec-08 Revised: 28-Dec-08
Accepted: 29-Dec-08
Original
Research Article
Abstract
PURPOSE:
A cross-sectional survey was conducted among secondary
school students in Ekiti State, Nigeria to determine
their knowledge about HIV/AIDS, sexual practices and
their sources of information.
METHODS:
Using a
self-administered questionnaire, 779 randomly selected
students, aged 12 yr and above, attending 10 secondary
schools
from five Universal Basic Education (UBE) Local
Government Areas in Ekiti State,
Nigeria were surveyed to determine their knowledge
about HIV/AIDS, sexual practices and their sources of
information. The data collected were analysed using SPSS
version 14.
RESULTS:
Majority
of the respondents across the classes (99.4%) were
knowledgeable about the modes of transmission of
HIV/AIDS. In spite of this, they still engaged in risky
sexual practices like having casual sex, multiple sexual
partners, non-use of condom and having sex for economic
reasons. Most of the students in the exit classes
acquired information about some sexual practices like
oral sex from the Internet.
CONCLUSION:
Although
there appears to be adequate knowledge about
HIV/AIDS among youths, risky sexual practices are still
common. Developing, restructuring and strengthening
HIV/AIDS risk reduction interventions are highly
recommended.
Key
Words:
Adolescents;
Sexual practices; knowledge of HIV/AIDS.
