FACTORS AND ATTITUDES AFFECTING SEXUAL BEHAVIOUR AND SEX PRACTICES AMONG SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN ENUGU.

摘要

WORDSThe study aimed to evaluate factors and attitudes affecting sexual behaviour and sex practices of secondary school students, and to suggest changes necessary for preventing and/or reducing HIV transmission among them. 1009 multi-staged sampled secondary school students aged 10-20 years completed the anonymous interviews. 973(96.4%) were Christians and 711(70.5%) day studentsPremarital sex was approved of by185(18.3%) of the respondents while 596(59.1%) claimed they would continue to abstain till they get married; 252(25.0%) will abstain for some years while 136(13.5%) will abstain for months. 181(17.9%) believed that abstaining from sex is an abnormal behavior, that HIV/AIDS was a hoax. 573(56.8%) agreed that HIV/AIDs is a disease from which they could protect themselves while 387(38.4%) thought otherwise. Only 581(57.6%) of the respondents would seek advice if they found they were HIV positive. 797(79%) of the respondents were afraid of HIV infection while 520(351.5%) said that someone in their family might become infected. Attitudinal factors showed statistically significant variation with gender, age, school and class of the respondents. A good number also practice homosexuality and lesbianism. Appropriate information about sexuality education and the negative consequences of early sexual exposure, STIs/HIV/AIDS and teenage pregnancy should be provided in public schools.