ABSTRACT
Interest in the reproductive
health of adolescents continues to grow through the world. Few studies had
explored the issue on sexual extent of knowledge of STD female students in
Nigeria. The objective of this descriptive survey was to collect data to plan
appropriate interventions. Self administered questionnaire were used for the
respondents and data collected was restricted to demographic profile, sexual
behaviour and knowledge of sexually transmitted disease including HIV/AIDS. Majority of the respondents attributed
their attitude toward sexuality were positive. The higher the level of
knowledge of HIV/AIDS of the student respondents the more positive attitude to
premarital sex, prostitution and multiple sexual partners and sex education.
The out of school respondents were found to be more sexually active, have
earlier sexual exposure and there is low and infrequent use of condom among
sexually active ones. Their general knowledge of STD/HIV/AIDS is not only hazy
and inadequate but also shrouded in misconceptions and strong emotion. The mean
age of the respondent was 15.8 yrs there were slightly more males 52.4% than
female 47.6%, 6.2% of the entire student have sexual experience 8.9% of in
school and 17.4% of out of school respondents have had sexual experiences. The
study reveals an student population that is vulnerable and at increase risk of
STDs/HIV infection as a result of their sexual behaviours and knowledge.
CHAPTER ONE:
INTRODUCTION
Developing strategies to address the reproductive health needs and
concerns of the female students in Nigeria poses a major public health challenge.
One of the factors contributing to this challenge is the sheer size of the female student population in the
country. Female students account for a significant proportion (20%) of
Nigeria's population of 140 million.2 The second challenge is that a
significant proportion of the Nigerian female students engage in risky
practices including unprotected sex with multiple partners Individuals researchers and non-govern-mental
youth serving organizations (YSO) have responded to these challenges by implementing
several reproductive health promotion programs to increase female students'
knowledge of reproduction, HIV/AIDS and influence risky sexual behaviors
targeting on campus and out-of school female students.6,7 Despite
these efforts, the reproductive health needs of the majority of female students
remain neglected because these programs have been implemented on a small scale,
are of limited duration, and are concentrated in urban areas, even though the
majority of female students live in rural communities.
Although schools are important potential sources of reproductive health
education for female students, these institutions have not reached their full
potential because the Nigerian government has not yet formally introduced
reproductive health education into existing curricula. As a result, all
school-based reproductive health programs have utilized an extra-curricular
approach including peer education in which trained students inform, counsel,
and distribute non-prescriptive contraceptives to their colleagues.
Other school- based programs have trained teachers who deliver reproductive
health education including HIV/AIDS prevention as part of extra-curricula
activities on campuss.
AIM AND OBJECTIVES
General objective
To determine the
sexual behavior and knowledge of sexually transmitted disease including
HIV/AIDS among female students in UNIZIK L.G.A Anambra State.
Specific objectives
1. To
determine the extent of knowledge on sexually transmitted disease including
HIV/AIDS.
2.
To determine the attitude of the female students to
premarital sex, multiple sexual partners and use of preventive methods against
sexually transmitted infections.
3. To
determine the attitude of the female students to HIV/AIDS victim in relation to
their knowledge on STDs/AIDS.
Significance Of The Study
Interest in the reproductive health of female students continues to grow
throughout the world. One of the factors responsible for this interest is the
sheer number of young persons worldwide. For example, nearly half of the global
population is less than 25 years old.1
LIMITATION OF THE STUDY
The issue of sexuality in this environment is very sensitive, and is
considered private so there is possibility of concealment of vital information.
To overcome this rationale of the study was carefully explained to each
participant and confidentiality issues ware emphasized.
Addressing the reproductive health information and service needs of this
population poses significant challenges for policy makers and service providers
especially those working in resource poor settings. The fact that female
students and other young persons are disproportionately affected by the
reproductive health morbidity such as abortion, sexually transmitted infections
(STI) including HIV/AIDS draws attention to the need of appropriate
interventions. Female students account for a significant proportion of unsafe
abortions globally. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) at least
one-third of all women seeking hospital-care for abortion complications are
under the age of 20 years.2
Female students are also one of the groups hard hit by HIV/AIDS. Over
half of all new HIV infections in Africa in 2005 were among young persons aged
14–25 years with the worst hit being young women.3
These data underscore the need to target female students with appropriate
interventions that address not only the contextual factors such as gender roles
and poverty that place them at risk but also individual factors including lack
of access to knowledge, inadequate communication and life skills that female
students need to negotiate safe sex.
In Nigeria, as elsewhere in Sub-Saharan Africa, studies confirm that a
large proportion of female students have unmet reproductive health needs.
Evidence of unmet need is reflected in the fact that some female students
and other young persons lack adequate knowledge and understanding of the
reproductive process, that many harbor misconceptions such as the belief that
mosquitoes can transmit HIV infection, and false claims that use of
contraceptives can cause infertility.4
The National HIV/AIDS and Reproductive Health Survey (NARHS) showed that only 7% and 44% of 15–19 year olds knew of STI symptoms in men and women. Research also confirms that many young persons participate in risky sexual activities including early debut of sexual activities, multiple sexual partners, low and inconsistent use of condoms.....
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