Adolescents' knowledge and use of sexual and reproductive health services in the Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria

Contraceptive knowledge is vital to promoting youth health. It has been proven to lower the high rates of unwanted pregnancies,and STIs including HIV/AIDS. The aim of the study was to examine the level of contraceptive knowledge and use among youths in Federal Capital Territory (Abuja) Nigeria. The study adopted an explanatory sequential mixed-method research design. A total of 500 young people between the ages of 15 and 25 were interviewed. The majority of the youth (58.2%) were sexually active,with sexual debut starting within age 15-19. The prevalence of contraceptive knowledge was very high (78.8%), while (34.6%) were not using any type of contraceptives, even among the educated youth notwithstanding their level of education. It was concluded that there is a wide disparity between contraceptive knowledge and use which need to be bridged. There is a need to review policies regarding sexual and reproductive health, as well as sexuality education among youth in Nigeria. (Afr J Reprod Health 2022; 26[6]:80-88).

Risky sexual behaviors and associated factors among high and preparatory school youth, East Wollega, Ethiopia, 2017: A cross-sectional study design

Most of the sexual initiation and sexual practice of the youth begins at secondary school level. At this stage student assumed to be exposed to many risky sexual behaviors. However, little research had been explored in the Oromia region particularly in East Wollega zone on this area. A cross-sectional study design was used to assess risky sexual behavior and associated factors among high school and preparatory school students from 1st October 2016 till October 30, 2016. Data was collected using self-administered questionnaire. Focus group discussion was conducted to support the quantitative data. Probability proportionate to sample size (PPS) was used to determine the sample size for each grade 9-12. The data was coded and entered into a computer using SPSS version 16.0. Final model was fitted and P value less than 0.05 considered as statistical significance and independent predictor of risky sexual behavior. The results revealed that three hundred and twenty-four students participated in the study (response rate of 97.7%). In the past 12 months, 25.3% of students had sexual intercourse, 17.07% of them had more than one sexual partners and 11.9% of male students visited commercial sex workers. Family connectedness [AOR, 95%CI 0.73(0.67-0.89)], attitudes toward sex [AOR, 95%CI 1.22(1.04-1.43)], khat chewing [AOR, 95%CI 9.25(2.51-34.07)] and those that had been forced by classmates for sex [AOR, 95%CI 7.63(2.36-24.66)] were independent predictors of risky sexual behaviors. The study thus revealed that risky sexual behavior of school youth was increased by khat chewing, sexual coerciveness from classmates or teacher, positive attitudes toward sexual intercourse and reduced by high family connectedness alongside attending religious services regularly. In addition to parental connectedness and parental supervision intervention targeted on school youth like positive peer influence to encourage safer sexual behaviors among school youth is very important in reduction of risky sexual behaviors

Speaking through pictures: Canvassing adolescent risk behaviours in a semi-rural community in KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa

Background. Adolescent risk behaviours, such as substance abuse and unprotected sex, are leading social and health challenges in South Africa (SA). Objective. To investigate adolescents' perspectives on the prevalence of adolescent risk behaviours in rural settings in SA. Method. Using a qualitative photovoice methodology, the current study explored adolescents' perspectives and experiences of living in a peri-urban community in KwaZulu-Natal Province. KwaZulu-Natal is the epicentre of the South African HIV epidemic, and adolescents ­ especially young girls ­ are at heightened risk for HIV infection. Male and female participants aged 15 - 18 years (N=33) were asked to respond to a series of questions by taking photographs that best describe their perspectives or experiences. Results. The photovoice methodology allowed adolescents to represent their perspectives and experiences as experts on their lives and needs. The participants reported that adolescents in their community engage in various risky behaviours, of which risky sexual behaviours and hazardous substance use emerged as significantly problematic. Risky sexual behaviours entailed unprotected sex, having multiple sexual partners, cellphone sharing of pornography, and sex while intoxicated. Problematic substance use involved harmful drinking behaviours such as binge drinking and illicit drug use. Conclusion. Contextually relevant interventions aimed at reducing adolescent engagement in risky sexual behaviours and harmful substance use need to be prioritised. Additional recommendations are discussed

Adolescent Religiosity and Attitudes to HIV and AIDS in Ghana

This study investigated the relationships between adolescent religiosity and attitudes to HIV/AIDS based on two major techniques of analysis; factor and regression analysis towards informing preventive school education strategies. Using cross-sectional data of 448 adolescents in junior high school; the study incorporated survey in a self-administered questionnaire and sought to identify underlying factors that affect pupils' responses; delineate the pattern of relationships between variables and select models which best explain and predict relationships among variables. A seven-factor solution described the 'attitude' construct including abstinence and protection; and six for 'religiosity'. The results showed relatively high levels of religiosity and a preference for private religiosity as opposed to organisational religiosity. The regression analysis produced significant relationships between factors of attitudes to HIV/AIDS and of religiosity. Adolescent with very high private religiosity are more likely to abstain from sex but less likely to use condoms once they initiate: protection is inversely related to religiosity. The findings suggest that religious-based adolescent interventions should focus on intrinsic religiosity. Additionally; increasing HIV prevention information and incorporating culturally relevant and socially acceptable values might lend support to improved adolescent school-based HIV/AIDS prevention programmes

Condom use amongst out of school youths in a local government area in Nigeria

Background: Reported low condom use amongst out of school requires studying the context in which condom use occurs. Methods: A cross sectional study of 350 out-of-school youth aged 15-24 years in a local government area of Nigeria was enrolled using cluster sampling. Results: Those who had ever had sexual intercourse were 74.9. Of these; 56.5used no protection while 29.0used condoms. Up to 78.6have had sex within the preceding 12 months with 38.9condom use. The commonest reason for non-condom use was that it reduces sexual enjoyment. Those who believed a single unprotected sexual exposure may result in HIV infection reported more condom use than those who believed otherwise (42vs 27.2; P0.05). Those who had prior discussion with their partners on HIV/AIDS reported more condom use compared to those who had not (50vs 25; P0.05). Also; those who had sexual intercourse occurring as a spontaneous event reported less condom use compared to those who have previously discussed about the possibility of having sex (68.0vs 51.8; P0.05). Conclusion: Condom use is likely to occur within relationships where opportunity exists for discussion on sexual matters. Thus; further studies are needed on communication and condom use within sexual partnerships

Family predictors of adolescent substance use: the case of high school students in the Cape Metropolitan Area, Cape Town, South Africa

Family predictors of tobacco and alcohol use were studied in random samples of school-going Black; Coloured; and White adolescents (total N=1;800) in the Cape Town Metropolitan Area. The subjects ranged in age from 14 to 17 years; with a mean age of 15.95 years. Logistic regression analysis of the data showed invariance across the three racial groups in terms of the specific family variables that were predictive; as well as their direction and magnitude of association with substance use. Essentially; higher rates of substance use for all three groups were predicted by parental behavioural control; parental monitoring/knowledge and limit setting; marital relations and family stress. The findings extend the work on South African adolescent substance use by providing a view into the proximal (family) socialising forces that are related to substance use. The findings also extend the broader work on identifying specialised effects of dimensions of socialization on adolescent functioning. The discussion section includes commentary on the cultural invariance found when measuring socialising forces at this level of generality

Atlanto-occipital gap in Nigerians: Its relationship to difficult intubation

Background: Half of persons living with HIV/AIDS are below 25 years and majority of the remaining are believed to have been infected in their youth. The impact of HIV on young people has continued to generate increasing global medical; social; economic; political and academic interests. Aim: This paper reviews the pattern of existing documentation on HIV/AIDS regarding young people in Nigeria in presentations on this subject at international meetings and conferences. Methods: The review relied on a bibliography of 364 presentations from 17 books of abstracts and several solicited submissions; spanning 18 years; collated; indexed and published by the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research and the National Action Committee on AIDS. A matrix was constructed to categorize and tally the abstracts by several technical themes against the characteristics of the young people; aged 10 to 24 years that they reported on. Results: Eighty-five (23.5) out of the 364 were articles on adolescent/youths; the 18-year period; giving a rate of 4.7 articles per year. Regarding the context; 67 (78.8) concerned adolescents/ youths of both sexes. About half (47 or 55.3) were conducted among schooling adolescents/youths; and 23 (27.1) involved out-of-school youths. Twenty-three (27.1) titles were socio-medical research exploring knowledge; attitude; behaviour and practice; while three (3.5) were studies of biomedical nature; involving serologic investigations. Reports of interventions accounted for over half (47 or 55.3) of the presentations; most of which were on HIV awareness and prevention programmes. Conclusion: A low rate of reports on HIV/AIDS specific to young people at international conferences was observed; which does not reflect the level of importance and impact of the infection on this group of individuals. Amongst them; socio-medical studies; and interventions featuring awareness and prevention among schooling youths predominate. Interventions involving testing; treatment and care; and bio-medical studies especially involving vulnerable non-schooling youths; remain a challenge that must be faced

An assessment of the awareness of sexual and reproductive rights among adolescents in South Western Nigeria

This study; conducted in Ikeja and Ikorodu Local Government Areas of Lagos State; examined the awareness of sexual and reproductive rights among adolescents in south-western Nigeria. A total of 600 in-school and out-of-school adolescents were interviewed using quantitative and qualitative methods. The study revealed that majority of the adolescents were aware of sexual and reproductive health rights (60.3 in Ikeja LGA and 62.3 in Ikorodu LGA) but lacked knowledge of contents of the rights. Majority of them in various categories (by school condition and type of settlement) were not aware of sexual and reproductive health programmes being implemented for adolescents. In addition; those who were aware of such intervention programmes could not access or use the services due to certain sociocultural barriers. The study recommends formulation of appropriate intervention strategies and programmes for adolescents so that they may be aware and knowledgeable of their sexual and reproductive rights

Sexualite et planning familial chez l'adolescente en milieu scolaire

Une etude prospective de 300 adolescentes portant sur la sexualite et le planning familial chez l'adolescente; est colligee au College Moderne de Jeunes Filles de Yopougon du 1~ Mars 2004 au 30 Mai 2004. Dans notre travail; l'age moyen des adolescentes est de 15;6 ans et celui des menarches 12;9 ans. Les rapports sexuels surviennent precocement avec un age moyen de 14;7 ans dont 77;5 pour cent n'avaient pas utilise de contraception avant le premier rapport. Ceci ayant pour consequence la survenue de grossesse dont 69;2 pour cent ont abouti a une IVG; les raisons evoquees etaient dominees par leo celibat (84;6 pour cent) et la pression familiale (53;8 pour cent). Les adolescentes ont ete informees dans 94;7 pour cent pour le condom et 66 pour cent pour les autres methodes contraceptives; 98;7 pour cent sur la sexualite et les IST et 99 pour cent sur le VIH/SIDA. La source d'information predominante est representee par les enseignants: 84;8pour cent pour la sexualite et les IST; 83;2 pour cent pour le VIH/SIDA et 64;5 pour cent pour le planning familial. Les adolescentes de parents separes avaient plus de rapport sexuel (41 pour cent). La religion et l'argent de poche ne semblent pas exercer une influence sur la survenue de rapports sexuels. Plusieurs suggestions ont ete faites a savoir l'information; l'education; la communication sur la sexualite et le planning familial. Elles ont propose l'implication des agents de sante et l'amelioration de la communication parents enfants

Tabagisme en milieu scolaire : cas de la commune de Yopougon

Il s'agit d'une etude prospective sur les eleves du secondaire de la commune de Yopougon. Elle s'est etendue de mars a mai 2003 et a concerne 2010 eleves recrutes par tirage au sort dans differents etablissements de cette commune. L'objectif general etait d'evaluer la prevalence du tabagisme en milieu scolaire secondaire a Yopougon. De cette etude il ressort les observations suivantes : AU PLAN EPIDEMIOLOGIQUE : *la prevalence tabagique est de 17pour cent avec une frequence statistiquement elevee chez le sexe masculin (26.20pour cent contre 6.20pour cent P = 0.000) ; *L'age moyen des fumeurs est de 18.09 ans ; *27.50pour cent des fumeurs frequentent la classe de troisieme ; *39.50pour cent des eleves fumeurs ont commence a fumer entre 15 et 16 ans ; *77.90pour cent des eleves fumeurs consomment 01 a 05 cigarettes par jour ; *62pour cent des fumeurs fument pendant les loisirs ; *62.20pour cent des eleves fumeurs choisissent maquis et night clubs pour s'adonner a leur toxicomanie. AU PLAN DES MOTIVATIONS : *38pour cent des eleves fumeurs avaient commence a fumer par curiosite et desir d'imitation ; *Il existe une influence importante du tabagisme des pairs. AU PLAN DES CONNAISSANCES : *des pathologies liees au tabac; les cancers sont les plus connus avec le cancer pulmonaire en tete 75.40pour cent des reponses. Quant aux composants; la nicotine est la plus citee 61.30pour cent ; *33.60pour cent seulement des eleves connaissent les risques pour la sante encourus par le fumeur passif ; *54.40pour cent des eleves ont ete sensibilises aux mefaits du tabac par le corps enseignant. Au vu de ces resultats il apparait clairement que le tabagisme est bien etabli en milieu scolaire secondaire a Yopougon. Il est donc imperieux de mettre en place toute une serie de programmes de prevention mais aussi de prise en charge afin de circonscrire ce phenomene

Role des programmes de SMI/PF dans la lutte contre la fecondite

En Afrique; la plupart des adolescents ne savent pas grand-chose des problemes de sexualite et de reproduction. Or les infections genitales sont la cause majeure des infecondites secondaires dont la prevalence est plus elevee dans nos pays que l'infecondite primaire. Ainsi; tout programme dont l'objectif est la prevention de ces infections doit s'adresser a la population cible chez qui ces facteurs ont un impact important. Cette population n'est evidemment que celle des jeunes. Pour etre efficace; cette education des jeunes qui pourrait se faire directement ou indirectement par les services de planning familial et la sante maternelle et infantile

The agenda ABCs and beyond: developing and operations research agenda on comprehensive behavior change approaches for HIV prevention

"This document constitutes a one-day technical meeting destined to develop and set priorities for an operations research agenda to study effective behavior change strategies for HIV risk reduction. It is focused on ""ABC"" behaviors (Abstinence or delaying sex; Being faithful or partner reduction; and Condom use). Epidemiological; behavioral; psychosocial; and structural factors that may help determine the effectiveness of promoting the ABC's and other types of prevention programs where discussed."