Comportement des enfants et des adolescents

Abstrait

Sexual Behaviour and Sex Practices among Secondary School Students in Enugu

Obuoha Ejike

The study aimed to evaluate the sex practices of secondary school students, to high-light risk behaviors and suggest behavioral changes necessary for preventing and/or reducing HIV transmission. 1009 multi-staged sampled secondary school students aged 10-20 years completed the anonymous interviews. 221(21.9%) of them reported having had sexual intercourse prior to the interview. There were more males than female’s (p<0.001). 221 of the students have been sexually active in the past 12 months while 70 were active in the past 4 weeks. The median sex frequency was 2 times and highest among the 14-15 year olds. The age for first sexual intercourse peaked at 12 years for both sexes, more males than girls (p<0.03). The 16-17 year olds were the most sexually active with 75(33.9%) of them (7.4% of the study population) affirming they had sexual exposure. 98.2% of the sexually active student practiced high risk sexual behavior; more than 5 sexual partners per student, had sex with married people, accepted money for the sexual relationship and did not know their sexual partners well. A substantial number of the students knew that their sexual partners had other sex partners. 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.