Abstract:
The purpose of the study was to investigate the psychological and demographic predictors of risky sexual behaviour among in-school adolescents in Idah Local Government Area of Kogi State, Nigeria. Seven specific objectives and corresponding research questions and six null hypotheses guided the study. A cross-sectional survey research design was used for the study. The study population comprised of 4027 in-school adolescents in public secondary schools Idah L. G. A. of Kogi State. A total of 400 in-school adolescents made up the sample for the study. The instrument used for data collection was the adapted standardized instrument titled Psychological and Demographic predictors of Risky Sexual Behaviour among in-school Adolescents Questionnaire (PDPRSBIAQ) (Gobopamang and Lucky, 2013). Copies of the questionnaire were administered to the respondents in each of the selected public secondary schools by the researcher. Frequencies and percentages were used to answer research question 1 while Spearman (rho) correlation and Phi Coefficient were used to answer research question 2-5 and 6-7 respectively. The hypotheses were tested using logistic regression at α= 0.05. The results showed that low proportion of in-school adolescents have had sexual intercourse (25.2 %); had 2-3 sexual partners (6.0 %); had ≥4 sexual partners (8.5 %); had sexual intercourse under intoxication (25.5 %); had unprotected sexual intercourse (14.3 %); used methods to prevent pregnancy during sexual intercourse (24.8 %). Also, in-school adolescents that were neuroticists (OR = 1.631; C. I. = 0.772- 3.444; p= 0.200), with high self-efficacy (OR = 1.157; C. I. = 0.722- 1.853; P= 0.545), with high self-esteem (OR = 1.853; C. I. = 0.991- 3.466; p= 0.053), and aged 14-17 years (OR = 1.120; C. I. = 0.683- 1.842; p= 0.650) were more likely to engage in risky sexual behaviours compared to in-school adolescents that were extroverts, with low self-efficacy, with low self-esteem and aged 9-13 years respectively. Furthermore, female in-school adolescent were 21 percent more likely to engage in risky sexual behaviours (OR = 1.209; C. I. = 0.787- 1.855; p= 0.386) compared to male in-school adolescents while in-school adolescents in rural schools were 34 percent less likely to engage in risky sexual behaviours (RSBs) (OR = 0.661; C. I. = 0.430- 1.015; p= 0.059) compared to urban in-school adolescents. Based on the findings, it was recommended that among others, teachers, health educators, health agencies, federal government and other relevant stakeholders should enlighten in-school adolescents on the importance of avoiding risky sexual behaviours and the utilization of preventive measures for STIs and HIV/AIDS.
