CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
Background to the Study
Adolescence is marked by a period of self-discovery. It is characterized by transitions in emotional, social and cognitive development. In high school, students are exposed to social opportunities, and are able to exercise more freedom compared to their experiences during their elementary or middle school years (Eccles, Lord, & Roeser, 2020). This sense of independence is important for adolescents’ personal growth and identity. The transition to high school also indicates a corresponding heightened emphasis on intrinsic motivation and relative ability (Eccles, Lord, & Roeser, 2016). A substantial concern for high school students can be balancing academic achievement with peer acceptance and approval (Juvonen, 2016). Eccles and colleagues (2016) demonstrated that as adolescents negotiate these internal and external challenges, they begin to establish a more coherent sense of personal identity and self-concept. The challenges of this period can help some grow and forge a positive sense of self-esteem. For some, however, the developmental challenges can render them more vulnerable to poor self-esteem, and more susceptible to involvement in risk taking and problem behaviors (Eccles, 2016).
Studies have found that poor academic self-concept can lead to disengagement from school, and a downward spiral over time toward poor grades, and behavioral transgression (Duncan, Boisjoly, Kremer, & Ralston, 2019).
Adolescence is also the onset of puberty and the emergence of sexuality. Adolescent sexuality is now considered a normative aspect of development, and is no longer equated with danger (Tolman & McClelland, 2019). More recent research in the field of adolescent sexuality has addressed not only the physiological processes but also the psychological processes involved in the development of a sexual identity (Tolman & McClelland, 2019). This trend has led to an increase in research on the formation of a sexual selfhood in adolescence (Dawson, Shih, De Moor & Shrier, 2018).
Sexual activities among young ones are on the increase all over the world with a trend towards early onset. Many of the young adults have initiated their first sexual activity in their adolescent age. In Nigeria, up to 6% of all sexually active adolescent girls may have been pregnant and engaged in induced abortion1. Sexual behaviour has been defined as any activity that induces sexual arousal and two major determinants have been noted to be (1) genetics and (2) degree of sociocultural regulation exerted on an individual to express sexuality.
The contraceptive is a birth control tool to prevent pregnancy and Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD) acquisition. Contraceptives are relatively accessible and affordable, with numerous types or options being available. Yet, incidence of unplanned pregnancies and STDs are still high Indeed, teenage pregnancies is a global issue and probably highest in sub-Saharan Africa While contraceptive remain a preventive measure for both STD and teenage pregnancy, it also known that several factors influence adolescents’ sexual behaviour in relation to the use of contraceptives. Notably, these factors include, but are not limited to peer- sociocultural pressures to engage in premarital sex, albeit without commensurate education against the consequences. Associated with the problem of unwanted pregnancies has been the concept of unmet needs of family planning.
A study on sexual behaviour and contraceptive usage has been done in Delta State University. However, that study included staff and students without delineation of student subpopulation for special evaluation. It is against this background that this study seeks to examine the literature on sexual behaviour, knowledge and contraceptive use among undergraduate female students in a University in Delta state of Nigeria. The objective is to translate the undergraduates’ birth control practice to the non-university community. Adolescents and young adults constitute a significant proportion of the world’s population. Over one-quarter of the world’s population is between the ages of 10 and 24; close to 90% of the world’s young people live in developing countries(1). The periods of adolescence and youth are the most productive and energetic times, characterized by risky behaviors including exploratory sexual practices. Due to their population base, their sexual and reproductive health behaviors critically affect the global wellbeing and population growth pattern (2). Reproductive health issues among adolescents and youth in Africa have been the subject of discussion. This is because they have a high level of premarital, often multiple, short-term sexual relationships. They do not use condom or use it inconsistently and are vulnerable to sexual violence and exploitation by older men (3). Appropriate knowledge on sexuality (which should be a part of the education required to grow up healthily and reduce vulnerability to sexual exploitation and abuse), teenage pregnancy, unsafe abortion, transmission of HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases is lacking among the adolescents (4). Lack of information on these issues leaves them deficient in the will and skills required to avoid high risk behaviors and/or management of their consequences. Information from previous studies in Nigeria suggests increasing sexual activity among single adolescents of both sexes.
There is also progressive decrease in age at initiation of sex and poor contraceptive use (5). The adverse health outcomes of risky sexual behavior were greater in females than in males; for example, Nigerian National Agency for Control of HIV/AIDS (NACA) reported a prevalence of 4.1% in people between 15 and 24 years, with adolescent girls three times more vulnerable than boys at the same age (6). The HIV prevalence in Ekiti state is 1.4% Periodic survey of the sexual behavior and contraceptive practices of young female students in our environment is required to assess the current situation. This would allow for appraisal of policy formulations that promote sexual health. Since most undergraduates are usually in their late teens and early twenties, a period characterized by sexual adventure and risky behavior, a study of the sexual practices among this group would be a mirror of happenings among young adults. This study therefore aimed to appraise the current sexual behavior and contraceptive practices in this group with the intent of recommending health promotional steps. Studies have reported that the majority of the university students are at the upper end of the teenage years (17–19 years) during which they are more likely to experiment with sexual activities while lacking knowledge on sexual health and protective measures. The authors of these studies have attributed a lack of sexual health knowledge among youth with the absence of school curriculum on sexual health at secondary education level, and poor knowledge of parents on sexual health that hinders discussion on sexual health issues with their children.
This lack of knowledge on sexual activities makes adolescents vulnerable when transforming from a restricted high school environment to a liberal urban environment, such as university. With a decreasing age of menarche and onset of sexual activity, young females are exposed early to unplanned and unprotected sexual intercourse, leading to unwanted pregnancies and unsafe abortions, severe illness, infertility, and even death. Individual factors such as risk perception, fear of side effects, opposition from male partners, health service limitations, and insufficient knowledge to make informed choices, have been reported as barriers for utilization of contraception in Nigeria. Family planning services continue to face challenges in meeting clients’ expectations and needs, despite the fact that pregnancy spacing can prevent 20%–35% of all maternal deaths. Data from Tanzania Demographic and Health Survey14 indicate that in 2010, about one-third of all women in Tanzania were using contraception, among which 24% were using modern methods, and 5% were using traditional methods. According to the survey, the use of contraceptives is still low, as less than half of all participants reported that they were not using contraceptives. The most commonly used modern methods of contraception were injectable contraceptives, pills, and male condoms.
The limited information about sexual behaviors, contraceptive knowledge, and contraceptive use among adolescents in Tanzania underscores the need to understand the knowledge and pattern of contraceptive use among this high-risk group in order to promote proper use of contraceptives. As an attempt to curb the problem, Tanzania government policy on family planning has made an effort to ensure the availability of free contraceptive services, including family planning education, in its health facilities for men and women who are in need. However, information on contraceptive use is not easily available to young students due to the social stigma of using contraception before marriage, and hence, they may fear disclosing their sexual activity. Therefore, this study is aimed to assess sexual behaviour and contraceptive practices among female adolescence in College of Education, Lagos state.
Statement of the Problem
Today, as the educational sector is faced with series of changes and reforms, it is good to reflect on matters concerned with learning in tertiary institutions. There are various factors affecting students learning outcomes in our higher institutions. There are distractions for student here and there especially female ones. The sexual behaviour pose a great challenge to them. It tends to divert their total attention and concentration from their primary assignment, the academic pursuits.
The awareness towards the rampart of contraceptive practices among female adolescence is more pronounced in schools today. In Nigeria, most home are not intact as a result of issues of incompatibility of the couples, death of a parent and the quest for the oversea trips to make more money, and at times marital infidelity. This has resulted in the separation of couples and children and has led poor upbringing of the children. This has worsened the situation of sexual perversion among students. It has in no small measure affect students’ academic performance in tertiary institutions
Thus, this study is set out to find sexual behaviour and contraceptive practices among female adolescence in College of Education, Lagos state.
Purpose of the Study
The general objective of this study is to examine the sexual behaviour and contraceptive practices among female adolescents in College of Education, Lagos. The specific objectives of the study are:
1. Examine the use of contraceptive methods among College Students.
2. Find out the attitudes of college students towards contraceptive methods.
3. Determine the Sexual Behaviours among College Students.
Significance of the study
The findings from this study will provide education policy makers and managers/ administrators with information to help formulate strategies that would reduce wanton sexual behaviour and proliferation of contraceptives among tertiary institution students. This study on the will be relevant to teachers, students, curriculum planners, educational researchers and government. It will also help Ministry of Education in formulating institutional capacity building framework to educate students on unprotected sex and improper use of contraceptives. The study will make possible recommendations towards sex education among tertiary institution students.
The lecturers will find the result beneficial because it will come up with the best method of counseling students in the area of sex. Appropriate knowledge on sexuality (which should be a part of the education required to grow up healthily and reduce vulnerability to sexual exploitation and abuse), teenage pregnancy, unsafe abortion, transmission of HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases is lacking among the adolescents (4). Lack of information on these issues leaves them deficient in the will and skills required to avoid high risk behaviors and/or management of their consequences. All these will be the knowledge that this study will impact both to the lecturers and students.
Students will also find the results of this study useful because it will expose them to diseases that could be contacted through unprotected sexual intercourse. There is no doubt that these will be a caution for the students in going to sexual relationship just for pleasure of it. Again, this study will make its contribution to the literature on sexual behaviour and contraceptive practices thereby contributing to educational research in Nigeria.
Finally, the result of this study will help the government to stand to its responsibility of making policy that will discourage sexual behaviour and contraceptive practices among adolescence. The study was also expected to generate knowledge on sexual behaviour and contraceptive practices.
Scope of the Study
This study delimited to sexual behaviour and contraceptive practices among female adolescents in College of Education, Lagos state. Both NCE and Degree Students would be used for the study. Sexual behaviour and contraceptive practices are the independent variables while students’ learning outcomes is the dependent variable.
Research Questions
The following research questions are posed to guide this study:
1. What are the various use of contraceptive methods among College Students?
2. What are the attitudes of college students’ towards contraceptive methods?
3. What are the Sexual Behaviours among College Students
4. What are the causes of using contraceptive by college students?
5. What are the side effects of using contraceptive by college students?
Research Hypothesis
The following research hypotheses are formulated from the research questions:
1. There is significant difference in various use of contraceptive methods among College Students.
2. There is significant difference in attitudes of college students’ towards contraceptive methods.
3. There is significant difference in the sexual behaviours among College Students
4. There is significant difference in the causes of using contraceptive by college students.
5. There is significant difference in the side effects of using contraceptive by college students.
Definition of terms
The following terms are operationally defined as used in the study:
Sexual Intercourse: Sexual contact between individuals involving penetration, especially the insertion of a man's erect penis into a woman's vagina, typically culminating in orgasm and the ejaculation of semen
Sexual risk: Sexual risk behavior is defined as unprotected sexual intercourse with partners who are potential carriers of sexually transmitted diseases, especially HIV.
Unprotected sex: sexual intercourse without the use of a condom.
Pregnancy: the condition or period of being pregnant.
Contraceptives: a device or drug serving to prevent pregnancy.
Teaching: The profession of a teacher or the activities of educating or instructing; activities that impart knowledge or skill.
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