Risky sexual behaviours and associated risky determinants among students’ of federal polytechnic, Oko, Anambra State

Adolescence is a period of life with specific health and developmental needs and rights. It is also a time to develop knowledge and skills, learn to manage emotions, relationships and attributes as well as abilities that will be important for enjoying the adolescent years. It is also a period of assuming adult roles.

Purpose: This study was aimed at exploring the risky sexual behaviours and factors associated with Risky sexual behaviours (RSB) among students’ of Federal Polytechnic Oko.

Cross-sectional design was used for this study.

Method: The Instrument used for collection of data was an adapted Questionnaire (University of Florida sexual behaviour questionnaire 2019). 444 students who volunteered were used for the study. Multi-stage sampling technique was used. In stage 1, simple random sampling technique was used to select four (4) schools out of the eight (8) schools in Federal Polytechnic Oko (FPO). In stage 2, out of the four (4) schools, Proportionate sampling technique was used to select one departments from the schools, whereby for each school with less than four (4) departments, one (1) department was selected and for any school with more than four (4) departments, two (2) departments were selected. Finally, simple random sampling technique was used to select the participants for the study from the selected departments. The face and content validity was established and the reliability coefficient of the instruments was 0.82. Data analysis was done using chi-square.

Result: The results indicated that 426 (97.3%) of the participants practised risky sexual behaviour, while 12 (2.7%) did not practise RSB, however, only 140 (32.0%) had definite practice (mean score>2.5). Most of the students practised unprotected vaginal 390 (89.0%), oral 345 (78.7%) and anal sex 307 (70.1%). More than two-thirds 317 (71.0%) of the students had multiple sexual partners and engaged in smooching. More than half of the respondents were influenced by certain factors that predisposed to risky sexual behaviour, 344 (78.5%) exposed themselves to pornography, (343) 78.3% cohabitate with opposite sex, while, about half of the students accepted that risky sexual behaviour can be reduced through increase in STIs awareness. Increase in condom use (37.7%) and STI testing (35.2%) were strongly agreed as ways of reducing RSB. Nishtha and Siddharth, 2019, opined that specific sexual behaviour among students include but not limited to too early initiation of sexual activity, sexual intercourse without the use of contraception, unplanned pregnancy, multiple sexual partner and sexual intercourse with a partner infected with an STI and HIV/AIDS, unprotected vaginal sex, oral sex and outercourse/smooching (non – penetrative sexual activity) among others. Some of the factors associated with risky sexual behaviours include: Substance abuse, Prestige of Multiple Partners, Sexual Activity for Financial Gain, Sexual Activity for Good Grades, Casual Sex Partners, Peer Pressure, Gender Issues, Media, Sexual Activity to Relieve Stress, Easy access to sex, watching of pornographic.