ANALYSIS OF KNOWLEDGE AND ATTITUDE OF SEXUAL THREAT BEHAVIOUR AMONG SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL PUPILS IN BAUCHI STATE
ABSTRACT
The purpose for this study was to assess knowledge and attitude of sexual risk behaviour among senior secondary school students in Bauchi State, Nigeria. An expost facto research design was used. A total of 76,279 constituted the number of respondents used for this study. A multi stage sampling procedurewhich included stratified and proportionate sampling procedures were used to draw the sample size from the senior secondary schools within the three (3) senatorial zones of the state, which are Bauchi north, Bauchi central and Bauchi south. The instrument used was a close– ended questionnaire. Three hundred and seventy eight(378) copies of the questionnaire wereadministered using simple random sample technique to the respondent. The data collected were analyzed using simple frequency and percentages to describe the demograhphic characteristics of the respondents, descriptive statistics of mean and standard deviation were used to answer the research questions.One sample t-test, independent sample t-test and ANOVA were used to testthe formulated hypotheses. The finding of the study revealed that knowledge of sexual risk behaviour among senior secondary school students in Bauchi State is significant (t = 4.120; p = 0.021), attitude towards sexual risk behaviour among senior secondary school students in Bauchi State is not significant (t = 1.341; p=0.81), demographic characteristics of the respondents such as age and gender do not significantly influence the knowledge and attitude towards sexual risk behaviour among senior secondary school studnets in Bacuhi State.On the basis of the conclusion drawn thatsenior secondary school students in Bauchi state have significant knowledge of sexual risk behaviour and that attitude towards sexual risk behavviiours among senior secondary school students in Bauchi State is negative. It was recommended among others that continuous education through organizing of seminars and workshops by the school management should be made to sustain and promote the knowledge the students have acquired. Enlightenment campaign should be embarked upon by both government and school authority for students to enable them overcome their negative attitude towards sexual risk behaviour.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Cover page i
Title Page ii
Operational Definition of Terms xvii
Chapter One: Introduction
1.1 Background to the Study 1
1.2 Statement of the Problem 3
1.3 Purpose of the Study 5
1.4 Research Questions 6
1.5 Basic Assumptions 7
1.6 Hypotheses 7
1.7 Significance of the Study 8
1.8 Delimitations of the Study 10
Chapter Two: Review of Related Literature
2.1 Introduction 12
2.2 Concept of Sexual Risk Behaviour 12
2.2.1 Forms of Sexual Risk Behaviour among Senior Secondary School
Students 16
2.3 Concept of Sexually Transmitted Infections 23
2.4 Knowledge of Sexual Risk Behaviour among Students 32
2.5 Attitude towards Sexual Risk Behaviour among Students 43
2.6 Factors influencing the Sexual risk behaviour amongsecondary
school students 46
2.7 Demographic Variables and Sexual risk Behaviour 59
2.8 Empirical Studies 64
2.9 Summary 69
Chapter Three: Methodology
3.1 Introduction 72
3.2 Research Design 72
3.3 Population of the Study 72
3.4 Sample and Sampling Techniques 75
3.5 Instrumentation 75
3.5.1 Validity of Instrument 75
3.6 Procedure for Data Collection 76
3.8 Procedure for Data Analysis 77
Chapter Four: Results and Discussion
4.1 Introduction 78
4.2 Results 79
4.3 Discussion 93
Chapter Five: Summary, Conclusion and Recommendations
5.1 Summary 98
5.2 Contribution to Knowledge 99
5.3 Conclusions 100
5.4 Recommendations 100
5.5 Suggestions for Future Research 101
References 102
Appendices 115
LIST OF TABLES
Table 1: Sampled Respondents from each Sampled Senior Secondary School per zone 74
Table 2: Demographic Characteristics of the Respondents 79
Table 3: Mean Score of the Responses on knowledge of Sexual Risk Behaviour among senior secondary school students 80
Table 4: Mean Score of the Responses on the Attitude of the respondents
towards Sexual Risk Behaviour 82
Table 5: Mean score of responses on knowledge of sexual risk behaviour
according to age 83
Table 6:Mean score of responses on the differences between male and female students in their knowledge of sexual risk behaviour
among senior secondary school students 84
Table 7:Mean score of responses on attitude towards sexual risk
behaviour according to age 85
Table 8:Mean score of the responses on the differences between male and female students in their attitude of sexual risk behaviour among senior secondary school students 86
Table 9: One sample t-test Analysisonknowledge of Sexual Risk
Behaviour among Senior Secondary School Students in Bauchi
State 87
Table 10:One sample t-test analysis of attitude towards sexual risk
behaviour among senior secondary school students 88
Table 11:Result of ANOVA statistics on Knowledge of sexual risk behaviour among senior secondary school students in Bauchi State
is not significant influenced by their age 89 Table 12:Independent sample t-test analysis on the differences between male and female students in their knowledge of sexual risk
behaviour among senior secondary school students 90
Table 13: Analysis of ANOVA statistics on attitude towards sexual risk behaviour among senior secondary school students in Bauchi State
is not significantly influenced by their age 91
Table 14: Independent sample t-test analysis the differences between male and female students in their attitude towards sexual risk
behaviour among senior secondary school students 92
LIST OF APPENDICES
Appendix I Questionnaire 115
Appendix II Letter of Introduction to the Jurors to Vet the research
instrument 118
Appendix III Letter of Introductionto the School Principalfor
Data Collection 118
Appendix IV Enrolment figures of senior secondary school students in
Bauchi State 119
LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS
| AIDS | – | Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome |
| ART | – | Assisted Reproductive Technology |
| ARV | – | Anti Retroviral Drugs |
| BSS | – | Behavioural Surveillance Survey |
| CDC | – | Center for Diseases and Control |
| CIA | – | Central Intelligence Agency |
| FGM | – | Female Genital Mutilation |
| HBM | – | Health Belief Model |
| HIV | – | Human Immuno-deficiency Virus |
| MDGs | – | Millennium Development Goals |
| NDHS | – | Nigeria Demographic Health Survey |
| NGO | – | Non Governmental Organization |
| NMCP | – | National Malaria Control Program |
| NMSP | – | National Malaria Strategic Plan |
| NPC | – | National Population Commission |
| SPSS | – | Statistical Package for Social Sciences |
| SSA | – | Sub Sahara Africa |
| STIs | – | Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) |
| UN | – | United Nation |
| UNDP | – | United Nations Development Programme |
| UNESCO | – | United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural |
| Organization | ||
| UNFPA | – | United Nation Population Funds |
| UNICEF | – | United Nations Children‟s Emergency Fund |
| VCT | – | Voluntary Testing and Counselling |
| WHO | – | World Health Organization |
OPERATIONAL DEFINITION OF TERMS
Knowledge: refers to understanding of information required by the students on sexual risk behaviour such as multiple sex partners, unprotected sex and early sexual initiation.
Attitude: is the positive or negative thinking or beliefs of secondary school students towards the perceived sexual risk behaviour.
Sexual risk behaviour: refers to having sex at an early age, having multiple sexual partners, and having unprotected sexual behaviour.
Senior Secondary School Students: refers to students or respondents who are in upper or senior level of secondary school i.e. SS I, SS II and SS III.
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the Study
Sexual risk is concerned with those sexual activities that expose an individual to the possibility of contracting any sexually transmitted infections (STIs) including
HIV/AIDS and unplanned pregnancies (Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, 2010).Sexual risk behaviour are commonly defined as behaviour that increase one‟s risk of contracting sexually transmitted infections and experiencing un-planned pregnancies (Caldwell and Orabuloye, 2009; Diala, Oluyimi, Harris and Feyisetin, 2011). These behaviour include having sex at an early age, having multiple sexual partners, having sex under the influence of alcohol or drugs and having unprotected sexual (Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, 2010).
According to Ladebo and Tanimowo (2012), sexual behavioural change is the most effective means of preventing sexual risk behaviour. In addition, Ladebo and Tanimowo (2012) further stated that the only way to prevent sexual risk behaviour is to avoid behaviour that can put an individual at the risk of contracting STIs/HIV/AIDS. Many people infected with STIs/HIV/AIDS have no sign and symptoms, as such there is no way of knowing with certainty whether a sexual partner is infected or not infected unless he/she has repeatedly tested negative and has not engaged in any sexual risk behaviour betweenthe tests (Weiner, 2013; Adekeye, 2009). According to Caldwell and Orabuloye(2009);Diala, Oluyimi,
Harris and Feyisetin (2011), the health of secondary school students is of paramount importance, therefore, it is imperative to assess how knowledgeable they are with respect to sexual risk behaviour.
Secondary School Students at senior school level are confronted with developmental and adjustment challenges, whereby sexual issues are the most prominent challenges (Omoegun, 2008). Furthermore, majority of secondary school students overexpress their sexual desire; engage in a spectrum of sexual behaviour ranging from fantasy and self-stimulation to various forms of intercourse. Odunsaya and Bankole (2009) stated that secondary school students are often known to be adventurous and sometimes engage in lesbianism, homosexuality and sexual orgies because they want to experiment. The students who engage in sexual experimentation are at increased risk of contracting STIs/HIV/AIDS and unwanted pregnancies (Odunsaya and Bankole, 2009).
There are so many factors which contribute to students engagement in sexual risk behaviour which among others are the negative media images, the internet which promote lustful and irresponsible sexual behaviour, parental abuse, battering, social stigmatization, child abandonment and child abuse, sexual abuse, early sexual experimentation, drug and alcohol use and peer pressure to engage in adult-like activities (Peltzer and Promtussananon, 2011).However, these students may not be aware of the social and emotional implications of their sexual activities, since majority of them do not use safe sexual practices. According to Carey and Schroder (2009), sexual behaviour such as delaying initiation to sexual intercourse, choosing
and respectful partners, increased use of condoms, and using effectivecontraceptionsamong others are important public health issues which should be disseminated to secondary school students.
Secondary school students might be knowledgeable about ways to prevent sexual risk behaviour, however, this knowledge does not reflect in their attitude towards reducing these sexual risks (Odunsaya and Bankole, 2009). To reduce sexual risk behaviour and related health problems among students, the school can help students adopt life-long knowledge and attitude that support their health and wellbeing including behaviour that reduce their risk for HIV/AIDS, other STIs and unplanned pregnancies (CDC, 2010). Abstaining entirely from sexual activity will completely eliminate these risks.Assessing the knowledge and attitude of secondary school students in respect to sexual risk behaviour will contribute to sound policy making and decisionamking appropriate for the needs of the students. Thus, this study strive to assess the knowledge and attitude of sexual risk behaviour among senior secondary school students in Bauchi State, Nigeria.
1.2 Statement of the Problem
Sexual risk behaviour are global health problems that threaten human existence. These riskyhabits have destroyed quite a number of lives both young and old in Nigeria (Borawski, 2010). Unsafe sexual practices are still occurring with sufficient frequency due to lack of accurate knowledge on sexuality, so that sexually transmitted infections, unwanted pregnancies and abortion remain significant public health concerns. World Health Organization (2012) stated that unsafe sex was second among the top ten risk factors in the global burden of all diseases caused globally.
The prevalence of secondary school students sexual risk behaviour has increased drastically in recent time due to lack of information and guidance about sex and sexuality (CDC, 2010). This is demonstrated clearly in their sexual behaviour where they are found in different areas of the country, along the street and secluded places at night engaging in sexual activities without the use of any protective means. Furthermore, Adamu (2015) asserted that secondary school students sexual activity in Nigeria has been on the increase since the last decade and sexual activities among unmarried students in Africa is high and also on the increase.
Secondary school students in Bauchi State are faced with the risk of unhealthy sexual behaviour such as early sexual initiation, unprotected sex and multiple sexual partners among others which are responsible for the spread of STIs including HIV/AIDS, high rate of unplanned pregnancies and abortions. This may be due topeer pressure from friends and classmates, advertisement of irresponsible sexual behaviour by the mass media. It is quite a pity that high profile promiscuity is advertised over the mass media, thereby exposing these students to wrong information about sex. Other reasons are ignorance and unwillingness of parents and teachers to address sexual health issues which increase the tendencies of students engagement in sexual risk behaviour. Open discussion of sex is frowned upon and not encouraged. Discussing sex with students is not approved and sexual education which is supposedto help avoid sexual risk behaviouramong these adolescent is opposed by some religion and culture. This situation is made worse by many parents and adults who believe that sexual health education will expose students to undesirable sexual activities.
Nayar (2011) asserted that the teaching of sexually education to students helps in delaying sexual activities and reduce the rate of sexual risk behaviour. Furthermore, the researcherstressed that sexuality education offered at the right age and time reduce the vulnerability of students to HIV and other sexually transmitted infections.Imparting proper sexual health information to students on sexual risk behaviour is important in the prevention of STIs, including HIV/AIDS because even at present, there is no known immunization or inoculation against the diseases. Proper knowledge about sex and the right attitude toward sexuality is important for healthy and happy life of students and the society at large.On the basis of these concerns this study therefore, assessed the knowledge and attitude of sexual risk behaviour among senior secondary school students in Bauchi State, Nigeria.
1.3 Purpose of the Study
Themain purpose of this study was to assess the knowledge and attitudeof sexual risk behaviour among senior secondary school students in Bauchi State. The specific purposes are to assess:
- theknowledge ofsexual risk behaviour such as unprotected sex, multiple sex partner and early sexual initiationamong senior secondary school students in
Bauchi State.
- theattitudetowardssexual risk behaviour such as unprotected sex, multiple sex partner and early sexual initiationamong senior secondary school students in Bauchi State.
- the influence of demographic characteristics of the respondents (such as age and gender) on knowledge of sexual risk behaviour among senior secondary school in Bauchi State.
- the influence of demographic characteristics of the respondents (such as age and gender) on attitude towards sexual risk behaviour among senior secondary school students in Bauchi State.
1.4 Research Questions
The study answered the following research questions;
- What is the knowledge of sexual risk behaviour (unprotected sex, multiple sex partner and early sexual initiation) among senior secondary school students in Bauchi State?
- What is the attitude towards sexual risk behaviour (unprotected sex, multiple sex partner and early sexual initiation) among senior secondary school students in Bauchi State?
- Do demographic characteristics of the respondents (such as age and gender) influence knowledge of sexual risk behaviour among senior secondary school student in Bauchi State?
- Do demographic characteristics of the respondents (such as age and gender) influence attitude towards sexual risk behaviour among senior secondary school students in Bauchi State?
1.5 Basic Assumptions
On the basis of the available research evidence, the following basic assumptions were made;
- the knowledge of sexual risk behaviour (unprotected sex, multiple sex partner and early sexual initiation) among senior secondary school students in Bauchi State is not good.
- theattitudetowardssexual risk behaviour (unprotected sex, multiple sex partner and early sexual initiation)among senior secondary school students in Bauchi State is not positive.
- Demographic characteristics of the respondents (such as age and gender) do not influence knowledge of sexual risk behaviour among senior secondary school in Bauchi State.
- Demographic characteristics of the respondents (such as age and gender) do not influence attitude towards sexual risk behaviour among senior secondary school students in Bauchi State.
1.6 Hypotheses
On the basis of the research questions, one major hypothesis and four (4) sub-hypotheses were formulated and presented as follows;
Major Hypothesis
Theknowledge and attitude of sexual risk behaviour (unprotected sex, multiple sex partner and early sexual initiations)among senior secondary school students in Bauchi State is not significantly positive.
Sub Hypotheses
| Ho1: | Knowledge of sexual risk behaviour (unprotected sex, multiple sex partner and early sexual initiation)among senior secondary school students in Bauchi
Stateis not significant. |
| Ho2: | Attitude towardssexual risk behaviour (unprotected sex, multiple sex partner and early sexual initiation)among senior secondary school students in Bauchi
Stateis not significantly positive. |
| Ho3: | There is no significant influence of demographic characteristics of the respondents (such as age and gender) on the knowledge of sexual risk behaviour among senior secondary school students in Bauchi State. |
| Ho4: | There is no significant influence of demographic characteristics of the |
respondents (such as age and gender) on the attitude towards sexual risk beahviours among senior secondary school students in Bauchi State.
1.7 Significance of the Study
The findings of this study will go a long way to helping senior secondary school students in the following ways;
It will contribute in creating awareness among secondary school students about the risks and consequences of involving in risky sexual behaviour through the teaching of sex education in schools.
It is hoped that the results of this study will encourage the government to put to use all the formulated policies and implementation strategies to reduce or prevent widespread of sexual risk behaviour. This could be achieved through the teaching of sexuality education in all senior secondary schools in Bauchi State
The findings of this study will help the parents of students to see the relevance of sexuality education in senior secondary schools when information is passed to them during Parent Teachers Association through seminars and workshop organized by the school management. Hence, creating a positive environment for interaction with the parents, health educators and health professionals.
It will also contribute to the existing knowledge of sexuality education and enhance the development of strategies that will positively influence the attitude of senior secondary school students to take positivesdecision regarding sex related matters. Which can be used to develop and review school curriculum on sexuality education.
The finding of this study will be useful to health education curriculum planners to see the need of including sexuality education as a subject.
This study will help to sensitize and empower senior secondary school students on sexual issues and reduce the risk sexual behaviour. It will stimulate Bauchi state government to pay attention to prevention of sexual risk behaviour among students in the state through enlightenment campaigns to the students.
1.8 Delimitations of the Study
This study was delimitedto;
- the knowledge of sexual risk behaviour(unprotected sex, multiple sex partner and early sexual initiation) among senior secondary school students in Bauchi State.
- the attitude towards sexual risk behaviour(unprotected sex, multiple sex partner and early sexual initiation)among senior secondary school students in Bauchi State.
- the knowledge of sexual risk behaviour(unprotected sex, multiple sex partner and early sexual initiation) among senior secondary school students in
Bauchi State according to their demographic characteristics.
- the attitude of sexual risk behaviour(unprotected sex, multiple sex partner and early sexual initiation) among senior secondary school students in Bauchi State according to their demographic characteristics.
- Generally, the study is delimited to all the senior secondary school students in Bauchi State, Nigeria.
ANALYSIS OF KNOWLEDGE AND ATTITUDE OF SEXUAL THREAT BEHAVIOUR AMONG SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL PUPILS IN BAUCHI STATE