RESUMO
BACKGROUND: According to World Health Organization (WHO), adolescents are persons aged 10-19 years. They comprise nearly half of the world's population of about 7 billion and 85% of them live in developing countries. AIM: The aim of this study is to assess the sexual behaviours, practices and contraceptive use among secondary school adolescents in Elele, Rivers State, Nigeria. METHOD: A cross-sectional descriptive study of 300 in-school adolescents in a rural community in Rivers State, South-South Nigeria, selected using multi-stage random sampling technique. RESULTS: There was a high awareness of contraception among respondents, 235 (78.3%), with condom, 207 (88.1%), having the highest awareness. About forty-five percent of respondents, (134), in this survey have had their first sexual debut and 84.3% of this number was sexually active in the last six months preceding this survey. The mean, median and the modal age of first sexual debut were; 12.0 + 2.8, 12.6, and 12.4 years respectively with the youngest age of initiation of sexual activity being 5 years. About two-thirds of those sexually active have multiple sexual partners. Contraceptive use was statistically higher among the sexually active respondents, (74.3%), than the sample study population, (30.3%), (Χ2 = 65.08, p = 0.000). Condom use at their last sexual debut, (58.2%), was significantly higher than use in their first sexual debut (31.3%), (Χ2 = 16.17, p = 0.000). The most commonly used contraceptive method was condom, (81.7%). CoNCLUSION: High risk sexual behaviour and increased sexual activity was prevalent in this age group. Efforts to promote sexuality education and contraceptive awareness should be intensified.